Madras High court confirms life for gangrape accused

Chennai: Confirming the life sentence awarded to a convict in a gangrape case, Madras high court pointed out that even after 69 years of Independence, safety of life and modesty of a young girl is not being ensured.

A division bench comprising Justices S. Nagamuthu and N. Authinathan dismissed appeal filed by Subru @ Subramani, one of the four accused in the gangrape case.

 The victim, a 20-year-old college girl from Krishnagiri district, was in an affair with a driver. On July 18, 2014, when they were traveling in a car near Podampatti village, she went to attend the nature’s call. Subramani along with three other accused namely C. Prakash, I.G. Mani and T. Prakash attacked and raped her.

On hearing her distress call, her lover rushed to the bush, where the four accused attacked him and tied him. They also video-graphed the rape through their mobile phones and threatened that they will upload it in the internet, if the matter was leaked out.

Mahila court in Krishnagiri had on October 15, 2015, convicted and sentenced all the four accused to life imprisonment. Aggrieved, Subramani filed this appeal.  

“Our ultimate thorough analysis clearly would lend us only in confirming the conviction of the appellant,” the bench said. Pointing out that the trial court had not considered the issue of compensation to be paid to the gang rape survivor under the Victim Compensation Scheme introduced by the Tamil Nadu government.

“We are doubtful as to whether the trial judge is aware of such scheme,” the bench said directing the state government to pay  '8 lakh compensation to the victim.