The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court upheld the conviction and life sentence in the case of Raju Dadu Suryawanshi vs State of Maharashtra[1], where a 54-year-old man, Raju Suryawanshi, raped his own 12-year-old daughter. The Court rejected his appeal, stating that the first information report (FIR) was not a result of false implication orchestrated by the child’s mother. The division bench, consisting of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Abhay Waghwase, emphasized that the crime of raping one’s own daughter is heinous and the punishment was appropriate.
According to the survivor’s testimony, on October 11, 2014, the appellant had a dispute with his wife and took their three children, including the minor girl, to his native place. While in an inebriated state, he raped his daughter in a nearby field. The next morning, he brought the children back to their mother, and the survivor revealed the ordeal after returning from school.
The Court found the survivor’s conduct natural, as it is common for such victims to confide in someone, they feel comfortable with. The bench also considered that the girl might have been under pressure due to her father’s actions, which could explain her silence during the incident.
The appellant claimed that his wife forced their daughter to falsely implicate him due to her alleged extramarital affair. However, the Court rejected this argument, stating that a mother would not subject her daughter to such a situation merely for revenge. The bench reiterated that the FIR was not a result of false implication at the behest of the mother.
The Court acknowledged that the psychology of such girls and their reactions to traumatic situations may vary. It further emphasized that the impact of such heinous crimes on the victim’s life should not be underestimated.
With these findings, the bench dismissed the father’s appeal and upheld life imprisonment for his crime of raping his own daughter. The judgment highlighted the gravity of the offense and the importance of ensuring justice for the survivor, considering the severity of the crime committed against her[2].
WRITTEN BY- SWATI SUMAN, COLLEGE NAME – MODY UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, RAJASTHAN, SEMESTER- 9TH SEMESTER AN INTERN UNDER LEGAL VIDHIYA
[1] https://www.barandbench.com/news/bombay-high-court-upholds-life-imprisonment-man-raped-own-daughter
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