Kochi:
Holding that there can never be a "graver heinous crime" than a father raping his daughter, a court in Kerala has awarded rigorous life imprisonment to a man who raped his daughter and forced her into flesh trade.
According to police, the 14-year-old girl was raped over a period of time by over 100 persons, including her father T Sudheer, a little known Malayalam film actor, who forced her into the flesh trade and took her to various places in Kerala and neighbouring states.
The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court, which pronounced the judgement yesterday, also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Sudheer who has been charged under IPC section 376 (pertaining to rape).
He has also been sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment under section 506 (1) (criminal intimidation) and another six months simple imprisonment under section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
The sentences would run concurrently and the fine amount would be given to the victim.
Delivering the judgement, the court held that "there can never be a graver heinous crime than the father being charged of raping his daughter. It is betrayal of trust. The father is a fortress and refuge of his daughter in whom the daughter trusts."