Life term to father who inflicted AIDS on daughter,wife

A 50-year-old man, who inflicted AIDS on her minor daughter, has been sentenced to life term by a local court at Alappuzha district in Kerala on charges of rape and cruelty towards juvenile.

The accused's wife had earlier died of AIDS, that too inflicted by him.

The accused was suspected to have contracted AIDS owing to the immoral life he led while working in Mumbai for years. By covering up the matter, he used to maintain a sexual relationship with his wife. The wife died in 2012 following AIDS.

Even when the mother was alive, the accused allegedly sexually abused their minor daughter. This continued even after the mother's death. The girl did not reveal it to anyone owing to fear and social stigma. Her younger brother used to stay at a relative's house.

As the cruelty continued and the girl fell ill, she shared her concern with an Anganwadi community worker of the locality, who in turn alerted the police and doctors of the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital.

Subsequently, the girl was subjected to medical tests and her statement was recorded. The father was arrested and was remanded to judicial custody.

The accused was found guilty under a various section of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 for rape, 376 (2) (f) for committing the crime several times on same victim and section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act for cruelty towards juvenile.

A fine of Rs. 2 lakh was also imposed on the accused, which should be used for the care of the victim who is in a shelter home. She is now aged 24. Alappuzha additional sessions judge S H Panjapakesan pronounced the judgment on Monday.

Public prosecutor C Vidhu, who appeared for the prosecution, told DH that the girl firmly stood by her statement during the trial. She suffered the ordeal from her father for about six to seven years and she revealed it to the Anganwadi worker after she got fed up. The medical condition of the girl is now stable.