A father of two has been found guilty of rape and sentenced to seven years in jail by a Delhi Court for establishing physical relationship with a girl on a false promise of marriage.
The judge rejected the man's submission that it was consensual sex and said "the court cannot and should not give a licence to those who keep on looking for opportunities to exploit the sentiments and vulnerability of Indian girls who perceive marriage as a pious bond and not as a union of bodies."
Additional Sessions Judge Nivedita Anil Sharma sentenced north east Delhi resident Vijit to a seven-year imprisonment saying "he has subjected the victim to unwanted physical contact as had she known that he would not marry her, she would not have surrendered herself to him."
The court noted that the girl's consent was obtained by fraud and misconception of facts and said "breach of her privacy and modesty is a heinous offence".
The court rejected Vijit's plea for leniency on the ground that he has two minor children, one of who has to undergo heart surgery.
"As per social morality which attaches highest importance to chastity of a woman, the outrage and breach of her privacy and modesty is a heinous offence. To show mercy would be travesty of justice," it said.
According to prosecution, the 25-year-old girl was working in a private company and the convict was its customer. During his visits to the company, they came in contact and became friendly. Thereafter, he proposed marriage to the girl and asked her to establish physical relationship.
When the girl refused to do so, he promised her marriage on various occasions and made physical relationship with her for over a month. However, when the girl started insisting that he should come and talk to her parents, Vijit started avoiding her and snapped contact with her.
