Teenager wins justice against father’s rape in Hyderabad

A Nepali teenager in Hyderabad faced a challenging fight for justice after accusing her father of raping her in 2023. Despite her mother's initial support, she later changed her testimony during the trial. The special court sentenced the father to life imprisonment and provided the girl with a compensation of 2 lakh. The incident occurred in September 2023 when the girl's father, under the influence of alcohol, assaulted her with a knife. After the attack, the girl informed her mother, and they went to the police to file a complaint. The police arrested the father and charged him under the Pocso Act, which protects children from sexual offenses. During the trial at the special court, the mother turned hostile and claimed that the police pressured her into filing a false complaint. However, the court highlighted her earlier statement where she confirmed her daughter's accusations. The father argued that he was impotent and suggested that family issues motivated the accusations against him. The court found these claims unfounded, stating there was no reason for the girl to lie about such a serious allegation. After reviewing evidence and testimonies, the court sentenced the father to life imprisonment on March 18. The victim's identity is protected as per Supreme Court rules in sexual assault cases.