A person who has been charged with raping a woman, married the victim on Monday. Muniswamy (name changed) of Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district, who is undergoing trial at the Fast Track Court, and is  out on bail, tied the nuptial knot with Mangalamma (name changed), his victim, at a temple. The marriage was agreed upon by the families of both the parties.

Muniswamy clarified that he was not marrying her to get a reprieve, but had decided to enter into wedlock with her since he repented his act. “Due to the injustice meted out by me, no one was willing to marry her and this made me repent my act. The move has my family’s nod too”, he said. Mangalamma also expressed her willingness to the marriage and stated that she has faith in Muniswamy.

Mangalamma had married before and she decided to part ways with her former husband after seeking permission of the village panchayat as they were not getting along well with each other. She had returned to her parents and was eking out a living as a labourer.

Last year in March, when she was returning from her grandmother’s place, Muniswamy had allegedly raped her. She had filed a complaint at the Gundlupet Police Station in this regard.

The police had arrested the accused and filed a charge sheet against him in the court.