Man sentenced to life for raping 13-year-old niece

A court in Palwal has sentenced a 29-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping his 13-year-old niece. The incident took place in 2022, and the man, who is the girl's maternal uncle, had lived with her family for five years. The judge, Prasant Rana, found the man guilty and emphasized the seriousness of the crime. He stated that the act led to the girl’s pregnancy and abortion, which caused her immense pain and trauma. As a result, the court imposed a rigorous life sentence to prevent similar offenses in the future. The case was tried under the POCSO Act, and the judge also ordered a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the victim. This amount is meant to aid her recovery and support her rehabilitation. Prior compensation of ₹4.5 lakh had already been provided to her family. The prosecutor highlighted that the victim had trusted the man, addressing him as “Mausa” since she was eight years old. The trust was deeply betrayed, causing lifelong trauma. The defense argued that the man is illiterate and had no prior criminal record, emphasizing his difficult background and reliance on his aging mother. The case was registered with police in September 2022, leading to the conviction.