The Kerala High Court on Thursday will pronounce verdict in a rape case that had shocked Kerala five years ago.
Justice P Bhavadasan will pronounce the verdict on appeals filed by self-styled godman Santhosh Madhavan, who was awarded 16 years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping two minor girls.The prosecution case is that he lured, confined and raped three poor minor girls, inmates of an orphanage run by him, and a 22-year-old woman from January to March 2006.
However, three of the victims turned hostile, while only one of them stood by her complaint. Though the victims turned hostile, the court had convicted the accused in one case on the basis of video clippings.
The court had viewed a CD seized from the accused, showing him molesting one of the minor girls, who later turned hostile. Since the court could identify the victim and the accused, the CD was taken as evidence to convict the latter. He was found guilty of offences punishable under Sections 342 (wrongful confinement) and 376 (punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court had acquitted Thomas, the second accused and driver of Santhosh Madhavan. He was let off on the ground that the prosecution was not able to prove the charges levelled against him under Section 366 (A).
He was arrested on May 13, 2008, on a complaint lodged by a Dubai-based Malayali woman. In her complaint, Serafin Edwin had alleged that she was cheated of `40 lakh by Santhosh Madhavan. The case relating to cheating is still pending before the court. However Santhosh Madhavan was released on bail recently in the rape case.