In New Delhi, a man has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court for the aggravated sexual assault of his 12-year-old cousin. The court described his actions as “highly abominable” and noted that girls are not safe even within the “four walls” of their own homes when individuals like the convict fail to respect the sacred bond between brother and sister, as observed by Judge Niti Suri Mishra. She criticized Ajay’s actions as “heinous, inhumane, and insensitive behavior towards minor children who epitomize innocence.”
During sentencing, the court emphasized the psychological impact of such crimes on children, indicating that “the horrific memories of the offence may haunt the child, negatively affecting her mental health for life.” Although the defense requested leniency by pointing out that the convict, now 42, has three children and elderly parents relying on him, the court dismissed this plea.
No personal circumstances of the accused could outweigh the significant mental health challenges, including low self-esteem and psychological distress, that a child could face due to such an incident, the judge remarked. The judge also stressed that the incident does not remain isolated in a victim’s life and has “serious ramifications on the reputation of the victim’s family in society.”
Families are subjected to “limitless humiliation and abasement,” despite being faultless themselves, she added. This case dates back to 2013. As prosecutor Yogita Kaushik Dahiya explained, when the child was alone at home with her siblings playing outside and her parents away, Ajay — then 25 — who was the son of the victim’s paternal aunt, arrived at their residence and committed the sexual assault.
Judge Mishra directed the Delhi Legal Services Authority (north-west) to award Rs 15 lakh to the survivor, acknowledging that “not only these children but also their families endure humiliation, pain, and trauma. Consequently, it is the entire family of the victim that suffers,” she concluded.
