10-year jail to ex- sewadar for minor’s rape in Bihar

Tribune News Service

Patna, March 11

A local court in Bihar on Monday awarded 10-year jail term to former sewadar of Gaya Gurdwara and slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 for raping a minor two years ago in the area falling under the Kotwali police station.

The convict, Pratap Singh, will serve three more months of jail term if he fails to pay Rs 20,000 fine, the court said. Pratap had apparently raped a minor girl of the locality of the gurdwara at her residence on February 25, 2017. Soon after the incident, Pratap Singh was arrested and lodged at the Gaya Central Jail.

“When the girl was alone at her residence, sewadar of Gaya Gurdwara Pratap Singh raped her. With the help of some locals, he was caught red-handed and was later handed over to the police. On the victim’s mother’s complaint, Singh was arrested and sent to the Gaya Central Jail,” said prosecution’s counsel Kaiser Sarfuddin.

Defending lawyer Mukesh Kumar said: “Singh was sentenced for 10 years by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (1) Ashok Kumar Pandey and slapped a fine of Rs 20, 000. We will appeal in the higher court against the judgment passed today.”