A 26-year-old man was sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment by a local court for kidnapping and raping a minor girl for over a week in 2011.
A fine of Rs 5,000 was imposed on convict Devendra Vanshkar for the crime. Three of his accomplices, including two relatives, have been convicted as well.
His woman accomplice 40-year-old Atrobai Uike was awarded five years rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 3,000 for helping him keep the girl in confinement, under Section 368 of the IPC.
Devendra's mother-in-law Padmabai, who has been convicted, had asked the 16-year-old victim, who was known to her, to come to her residence and later added some sedatives in her food that made her unconscious.
Padmabai went with her to Chhindwara for selling her off but later Devendra took her to Hoshangabad district in MP at Atrobai's residence and raped her, confining her in the house for eight days.
The victim somehow managed to escape from Atrobai's house, but Devendra traced her and forced her to his native Chhindwara.
Later, Devendra sent the girl to Balaghat where Padmabai threatened to get her family eliminated if she complained to the police.
The victim, however, reported the matter following which a case was registered against the three and Devendra's wife Meerabai and submitted for trial.
The court yesterday found Padmabai guilty under various sections of the IPC and Devendra's relative Maniram Vanshkar under Section 368 of IPC for confining and threatening the victim.
It will pronounce quantum of sentence to both of them later.
Devendra's wife Meerabai has been acquitted in the case for lack of evidence.
