7-yr jail to tantrik for raping niece

Ruling that a rapist leaves a scar on a woman’s chastity, a court here has awarded seven years’ rigorous imprisonment to a ‘tantrik’ for raping his 16-year-old niece.

“A rapist not only causes physical injuries but more indelibly leaves a scar on the most cherished possession of a woman i.e. her dignity, honour, reputation and not the least her chastity,” Additional Sessions Judge Vijay Kumar Dahiya
said on Saturday while awarding the jail term to 57-year-old tantrik (faith healer) Mahesh Goel for raping the girl.

Dahiya said sexual violence degraded and humiliated the victim and left behind a traumatic experience.

Relying upon the statement of the victim and other witnesses, the court held Goel guilty for the offence of kidnapping or abducting, and raping a minor girl.

No leniency

The court said the offence committed by the convict was more serious in nature and that he went on ruining the victim’s life by committing immoral acts of highest order.

“It is evident that the convict treated the prosecutrix only as an object to fulfill his sexual desire. The offence committed by the convict is too heinous and, therefore, he does not deserve any leniency,” the court said.

The court said rape was not only a crime against the person but a crime against the entire society.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 12,000 against the accused, saying the offence committed was grave, heinous and utterly abominable.

Kidnapping

According to a complaint lodged by the girl’s father in December 2010, her daughter was missing from more than 10 days and suspected Goel of kidnapping her.

The police later rescued the girl and held Goel. The girl said that Goel, who was her maternal uncle, raped her on the pretext of curing her from the influence of supernatural forces.