A Mahila Court in Vellore sentenced four men to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the gang rape of a doctor in Katpadi in 2022. The heinous crime, which involved the abduction of the survivor in an auto, had sparked political outrage across Tamil Nadu, with opposition parties demanding stringent action against the perpetrators.
The convicted individuals have been identified as Parthiban, an auto driver; Mani alias Manikandan, a daily wage worker; and their associates, Bharath and Santhosh. A fifth accused, a juvenile, is currently facing trial before the Juvenile Justice Board.
On Thursday, Vellore Sessions Judge (Fast Track Mahila Court) S Mageswari Banu Rekha pronounced the judgment, awarding each convict 20 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25,000, as per a report on PTI.
Vellore Doctor Rape Case
On March 16, 2022, a woman healthcare worker from Bihar was abducted and gang-raped by five men, including two minors, while returning home from a cinema hall in Vellore after watching a night show with a friend. The incident came to light when two of the intoxicated accused caused a ruckus in front of the police station.
Around 12:30 am on the day of the crime, the victim, a lady doctor, was waiting for an auto with her male colleague in Katpadi. The gang, posing as share-auto drivers, lured them into their vehicle and took them to the Palar riverbed. There, they attacked the victim’s colleague, held him at knifepoint, and gang-raped her.
In addition to the sexual assault, the gang robbed them of mobile phones, two sovereigns of gold jewelry and ATM cards, using which they withdrew Rs 40,000.
The crime came to light when three members of the gang were arrested in connection with a drunken brawl. During interrogation, they confessed to the gang rape, leading to the arrest of the remaining suspects. Police later obtained an online complaint from the survivor.
