Dehradun: A fast-track court has sentenced a Dehradun-based teacher in his 40s to 20 years' imprisonment for raping a 12-year-old student in the hostel of a residential school on the outskirts of the city. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 95,000 on the convict.
Additional district and sessions judge Rajni Shukla pronounced the sentence on Saturday after finding the teacher guilty based on medical evidence and the survivor's statement.
According to assistant district govt counsel Kishor Kumar, the survivor's mother filed a police complaint stating that on July 17, 2021, she received a call from the hostel informing her that her elder daughter was unwell. When she arrived at the school, her daughter accused the teacher of misconduct, alleging that he had taken her to his room on the night of July 16, 2021, and raped her.
The girl said that when she complained to the female warden, the latter allegedly sided with the accused and instructed her to comply with his demands. The minor also alleged that the teacher threatened to kill her and her mother if she disclosed the crime to anyone. Police registered a case under IPC 376 (rape) and the Poso Act, and arrested both the teacher and the female warden, a resident of Meghalaya.
In her court statement, the girl also referred to the alleged rape of another student five years earlier, claiming the teacher had acted with the assistance of the female warden. However, due to "lack of evidence", the court acquitted the warden of charges of criminal conspiracy and the Pocso Act.
A journalist based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand with over 18 years of...
Read MoreA journalist based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand with over 18 years of experience. Currently working as Principal Correspondent in TOI. I cover archaeology, industry and judiciary (High Court, NGT, Consumer Commission and tribunals).
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