Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Forcibly Marrying Minor

A 49-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for forcibly marrying and raping a 13-year-old minor in 2017. The court emphasized a balance between deterrence and reform. The man was convicted under several provisions, including those from the IPC and POCSO Act.

A Delhi court sentenced a 49-year-old man to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for forcibly marrying and raping a 13-year-old minor in 2017. The sentencing underscored the need to balance deterrence and reform.

Judge Ankit Mehta presided over the case, convicting the man under multiple sections of both the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The court noted that the victim suffered severe mental trauma but also considered the convict’s family situation, which includes two minor daughters from a previous marriage. The man's satisfactory conduct in jail and lack of prior criminal records were also taken into account.

The sentences will run concurrently, and the court awarded Rs 10.5 lakh in compensation to the victim. The prosecution noted that the girl's maternal grandmother forced her into marriage due to challenging family circumstances.