VIJAYAWADA: The Third Additional Metropolitan Magistrate for District Special ACB and POCSO Court sentenced a man to 10-year rigorous imprisonment and levied a fine of Rs 30,000 for raping his 15-year-old daughter, here on Wednesday.
The convict, 38-year-old Derangula Yedu Kondalu is a resident of Vaddera Colony in Old Rajiv Nagar of Payakapuram in Vijayawada and works as a daily wage labourer.
According to Assistant Public Prosecutor Donepudi Sambasiva Rao, the accused had raped the victim for more than six months before the registration of case with the Nunna police station.
Yedukondalu is an alcoholic and his wife Nagamma works at a brick kiln. They have two daughters and a son. The victim is their elder daughter, a differently-abled girl. She is studying class VIII in the Deaf and Dumb School at Payakapuram. She mostly stays back at home.
On April 20, 2016, Nagamma lodged a complaint with the Nunna police against her husband alleging that he was raping their daughter for the last six months. The police registered a case under Section 6 of POCSO Act reference to 376(2)(i) and arrested Yedukondalu.
According to the woman, Yedukondalu raped her daughter several times when Nagamma went out for work and, their 13-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter went to school. The kids reportedly informed her about their father’s heinous deeds after which she left their son at home to guard the victim. However, Yedukondalu thrashed him and forced him to leave for school, to continue his outrageous act. Finally, the helpless mother approached the police.
The court announced the verdict after taking the accounts of 15 witnesses including the girl’s mother, siblings, neighbours, government doctor and the investigation officer into consideration.
According to the Assistant Public Prosecutor, the accused did not make any confession about the incident during the court proceedings and instead alleged that his wife was making false accusations against him.
Despite the arguments of the defence lawyer, the Special Court for ACB and POCSO sentenced the man to 10 year rigorous imprisonment along with Rs 30,000 fine.
The Magistrate also noted that the bench will give directions to Mandal Legal Services Authority to assess and estimate the required support to help the victim and her siblings regarding their welfare, education and livelihood.