A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Jhalawar for repeatedly raping the 13-year-old daughter of his live-in partner, according to a government counsel.The accused, Pratap Singh Sondhya, committed the crime after the girls mother allegedly died by suicide, leaving the minor alone with him, the government counsel stated.Pratap Singh Sondhya was convicted by a POCSO court in Jhalawar, which awarded him a life term and imposed a fine of ₹3 lakh, said Public Prosecutor Ramhetar Gurjar.When did it happenThe case dates back to December 12 in 2022, when a complaint was lodged at Dug police station in Jhalawar, Gurjar explained.The survivor was just 5-years-old when her mother began living with the accused. After her mothers tragic death by suicide five years later, the minor was left alone with the man, Gurjar added.In her complaint, the minor alleged that the accused repeatedly raped her for approximately 3-4 months before she managed to flee the house and seek refuge at her maternal grandmothers home, who later accompanied her to the police, the public prosecutor revealed.Based on the complaint, the police took action, lodging a case of rape against Sondhya under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and SC/ST Act, and arrested him within a day, Gurjar stated.Since December 13, 2022, the accused has been in judicial custody, held in jail awaiting trial, he added.After considering the statements of 15 witnesses and examining relevant documents, the POCSO court on Saturday found Sondhya guilty of repeatedly raping and sexually exploiting the 13-year-old girl, the prosecutor concluded.
