'Shattered most sacred relation': Delhi man repeatedly raped 11-year-old daughter; gets life term by court

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court sentenced a 37-year-old man to life imprisonment for repeatedly raping his 11-year-old daughter, ruling that he had "shamefully shattered the most sacred relation of humanity."Additional Sessions Judge Amit Sahrawat issued the order on January 9 while hearing sentencing arguments. The man had already been convicted of rape and under Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.Special public prosecutor Aaditya Kumar opposed any leniency, arguing that the crime had "shaken the conscience of society," as quoted by PTI.The court agreed, noting the offense's gravity as a repeated betrayal by the victim's own father. "The SPP has rightly submitted that the convict has shamefully shattered this most sacred relation of humanity. It (the crime) is further aggravated by the fact that he repeatedly raped the victim." Judge Sahrawat observed that the convict needed to be dealt with an "iron hand," particularly as he was the victim’s father, imposing a life sentence "for the remainder of his natural life."The court also addressed the victim's ongoing trauma. Taking note of her submissions that she was still undergoing mental trauma and was troubled by “horrible memories,” it called this a fit case for compensation and awarded her Rs 10.5 lakh.