Life sentence for man who raped 14-year-old girl in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: A 24-year-old man, Rakesh, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

The verdict was delivered by the XII Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge T. Anitha here on Friday. The court also fined the convict Rs 10,000 and awarded Rs 500,000 in compensation to the victim's family.

The incident occurred in 2019 when the seventh-grader victim was returning home from an Anganwadi Centre. Rakesh, a friend of the victim's brother, lured her into his house and raped her. In bleeding condition, she went to her home and was admitted to Petlaburj Hospital in critical condition.

Despite medical intervention, she tragically passed away after developing an abdominal infection. The Bharosa Centre, a support centre for women and children, provided counselling and legal aid to the victim and her mother throughout the ordeal. Bharosa's team, along with police officials and CDOs, continuously followed up with the Public Prosecutor all through the prosecution evidence in this case. The doctor’s evidence and the DNA Report supported getting a life conviction.

The Hyderabad City Police, the Bharosa Centre team, and the public prosecutor tirelessly worked to secure the conviction.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner K Sreenivasa Reddy commended the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in ensuring justice for the victim.