LI NetworkPublished on: 23 July 2023 at 12:30 IST
The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court recently upheld the conviction and life sentence of a 54-year-old man who committed the heinous crime of raping his own 12-year-old daughter. The case of Raju Dadu Suryawanshi vs. State of Maharashtra was brought before a division bench comprising Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Abhay Waghwase.
The court dismissed the criminal appeal filed by Raju Suryawanshi, challenging a previous order from April 2016, where a special court had found him guilty of raping his minor daughter. The bench carefully considered the evidence presented during the trial, including the testimony of the survivor.
According to the survivor’s account, on October 11, 2014, after having a dispute with his wife, the appellant took his daughter and her siblings to his native place. While en route, he was under the influence of alcohol and took the three children to a nearby field, where he committed the heinous act of rape against his own daughter.
The next morning, at the request of the children, the appellant returned them to their mother, but she was not at home. Upon her return, the survivor bravely disclosed the traumatic incident to her mother. The court emphasized that such disclosure may not occur immediately, and it is essential to consider the psychological impact on the victim.
The bench firmly rejected the appellant’s claim that his wife had manipulated their daughter into falsely accusing him of rape due to her alleged extramarital affair. The court found no evidence to support this argument and asserted that the FIR (First Information Report) was not the result of false implication orchestrated by the mother.
The court recognized the sensitivity of such cases involving minor victims who are under significant emotional and psychological pressure. Each individual may react differently under such distressing circumstances, and the survivor’s behavior should not be misconstrued. The bench noted that it is crucial to comprehend the complexities of the situation and not question the survivor’s conduct.
In conclusion, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court upheld the life imprisonment for the appellant, stating that the conviction was lawful.
The court emphasized the seriousness of the crime of raping one’s own daughter and underscored the need to protect victims and ensure justice is served.
