Teens’ rape: 16, including priest, get 4 life terms

Mahila court sessions judge Lingeswaran sentenced the priest, Aruldoss, to 30 years in jail. A fine of Rs 5 lakh was also slapped on him. Two accused, Ananda Raj and Balasubramanian, were sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment. Three women, Kala, Dhanalaksmi, Fathima, were sentenced to two terms of life in jail. Another accused, Sridhar, was also sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment. The court imposed various amounts of fine on them. The judge said the life terms will run concurrently.

According to the prosecution, Dhanalakshmi, who ran an eatery, forced a 13-year-old government school girl into prostitution. Using her, she also lured another 14-year-old girl into flesh trade.

The prosecution said they were handed over to the priest who raped the girls several times before selling them to a gang, who engaged them in flesh trade. A case was registered against 16 people, including seven women, who played roles in forcing the girls into prostitution.

The case, which was registered in 2014, was transferred to the Crime Branch-CID on a Madras High Court order in 2016.

A painter who entered a house and robbed a home maker of her jewel by threatening her, was awarded 7 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Vellore mahila fast track court on Monday.

According to officials, Mohanarangan (36), a painter was hired by Yeganathan to paint his house in Kalivadikandigai in August 2014. The painter while Yeganathan’s wife was alone held a scissor at her throat. The painter then decamped with 10 sovereigns of jewellery that Kavitha was wearing. Vellore mahila fast track court judge V Selvam, sentenced the painter to 3 years’ RI and imposed a fine of Rs 1000 for trespassing into the house. He then awarded another 7 years’ RI and fined Rs 1000 for assaulting Kavitha and stealing her jewels.