KOLHAPUR: A fast-track special court has convicted a 38-year-old doctor from Karnataka and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly raping a woman on the false promise of marriage.
The court found the accused guilty under Sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Apart from the 10-year sentence for rape, the court also awarded one year of rigorous imprisonment for cheating and two years for criminal intimidation. All sentences will run concurrently.
The verdict was delivered by fast-track special judge Shailendra Tambe.
The doctor, a native of Gulbarga in Karnataka, was working at a prominent hospital in Bengaluru when the offences took place. A complaint against him was lodged by the woman at the Karveer police station on April 18, 2018, accusing him of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation. He had earlier secured anticipatory bail from a Kolhapur court.
Police took the doctor into custody from Gulbarga a day before the judgment was delivered on February 26 and produced him before a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody at Kalamba jail.
According to the prosecution, the woman’s family had been searching for a suitable match for her and had shared her biodata with a marriage agent. Through the agent, they came in contact with the accused doctor. The two began speaking over the phone and continued communicating for about a month.
On December 31, 2016, the doctor took the woman on a trip to Goa, saying he would introduce her to his parents while celebrating New Year. They stayed at a resort in South Goa from December 31 to January 2, during which the doctor allegedly forced her into a physical relationship and recorded photos and videos of her in compromising positions.
The prosecution stated that the two later met multiple times in Bengaluru, where the doctor allegedly continued to force her into sexual relations while repeatedly assuring her that he would marry her. However, he kept postponing the marriage.
On March 2, 2018, when the woman travelled to Bengaluru, the doctor allegedly informed her that his marriage had already been arranged with another woman. He also threatened her with serious consequences and warned that he would upload her compromising photos on social media if she pursued the matter.
The prosecution said the woman suffered severe mental trauma and underwent prolonged treatment for depression following the incident.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 10 witnesses, including the victim, her father and brother, and two medical officers. Evidence presented before the court included mobile phone seizure records, hotel booking receipts, online booking records, the victim’s statement recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC, medical examination reports, and forensic evidence.
After reviewing the evidence and witness testimonies, the court observed that the accused had taken advantage of the victim’s trust.
“The victim believed and trusted the accused. However, after maintaining physical relations with her for two years, the accused refused to marry her and cheated her, breaching her trust,” the court said.
Judge Tambe ruled that the prosecution had successfully established that the accused engaged in repeated sexual relations with the victim by giving false assurances of marriage.
The court also rejected the defence argument that the case was fabricated to extort money from the accused, noting that the victim belonged to a well-educated and financially stable family.
The identity of the victim has not been disclosed in accordance with Supreme Court directives protecting the privacy of sexual assault survivors.
