A Delhi court on Friday refused to show any leniency in awarding punishment to the five persons convicted for raping a Danish woman two years ago, and sent them to jail for life, saying they have brought "stigma" to the country's image.
Additional Sessions Judge Ramesh Kumar awarding life imprisonment to the five convicts said it has come on record that the manner in which the act was committed by them was "inhuman" and they did not stop even when the victim said she was an AIDS patient.
The court said the foreigner woman had come to India with a faith that she would be safe while visiting the place, and while returning to her hotel when she got confused about the way, the accused instead of helping her, misled her and abducted her.
"They committed rape in brutal manner to satisfy their lust and rob her belongings. It was for the convicts to respect the lady, especially when she was a tourist, which is also a source of money generation for our country; and by doing this act, the convicts have levelled stigma on the face of the country," the court observed.
"They do not deserve any leniency. She had been subjected to such inhuman act continuously for long five hours and during this period she was given beatings when she tried to save herself. Accused persons did not show any mercy when she was saying that do not rape her as she was having AIDS," said the court.
"Hence, considering the conduct and act of all the convicts and submissions of the parties, I am of the opinion that end of justice would meet if the convicts, namely Mahendra alias Ganja, Mohammad Raja, Raju Bhajje, Arjun, Raju Chhakka, are sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of convicts' natural life, in addition to fine of Rs 50,000 each," read the order.
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All five were held guilty for committing gang rape, dacoity, kidnapping, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and common intention under the Indian Penal Code.
All the five were present in the courtroom when the verdict was read out. They had sought leniency, citing that they belong to the 20s age group and come from poor family background.
Along with Shyam Lal, the five robbed and raped the Danish woman at knife point near the New Delhi Railway Station in January 2014 after she sought directions to her hotel in nearby Paharganj area.
Shyam Lal died in February in Tihar Jail here and proceedings against him were dropped.
Three minors are also facing proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board in the case.
Police said the accused were vagabonds who took the woman to an isolated spot near the Divisional Railway Officers' Club, snatched her belongings and raped her.
--IANS
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