Chandigarh: 35-year-old civil engineer sentenced to 10-year imprisonment for rape

After five months of marriage, the accused went to his native village in Uttar Pradesh, claiming that his father was unwell. Meanwhile, the victim received a call from another woman who claimed herself to be the legal wife of accused.

When the victim confronted the accused, he disclosed about his first marriage and stressed that he had no relation with her. After repeated phone calls from the woman to the victim and her mother, it was learned that the woman had two children with accused and they were not yet divorced. The woman also lodged a complaint against the victim at Lalru Police Station.

The complaint was dismissed as the victim presented her legal marriage certificates at the police station. The victim, thus, approached the police and apart from the fraud committed by accused, she alleged rape in her complaint. An FIR in the matter was registered in 2017 after confirmation of allegations in medical examination.

During the trial, the defense counsel argued that both knew each other and the marriage was solemnised after mutual consent.  However, after going by the evidence and facts of the case, the court sentenced the accused to 10-year jail.