A court in Pune has sentenced a 58-year-old man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 12,000 for raping a 75-year-old ailing woman while returning from a hospital visit. The order was passed by Special Judge H.K. Bhalerao. The court also stated that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional three months of imprisonment. The incident took place in September 2019, following which the elderly survivor lodged a complaint at Paud police station. The prosecution described the crime as extremely serious and deserving of strict punishment.
According to the prosecution, the survivor was unwell and was taken to a hospital by the accused, who is related to her. While returning, he diverted the route and took her to a partially constructed building belonging to her son. There, he allegedly pushed her to the ground, threatened her, and gagged her mouth with a handkerchief to prevent her from screaming before sexually assaulting her. He warned her not to disclose the incident to anyone and fled. Despite her condition, the woman managed to walk back home and later approached the police with her son.
The case relied heavily on medical evidence, as the survivor had sustained injuries during the assault. Special Public Prosecutor Sanjay Pawar examined eight witnesses to establish the charges, with support from police officials involved in court proceedings. While the defence highlighted the accused’s age, now 65, lack of criminal history, and family responsibilities, the court observed that the act committed against a 75-year-old woman was a grave offence. Taking all factors into account, the court upheld a 10-year sentence, emphasising the seriousness of the crime.