Bhopal district court sentenced a 72-year-old rape accused for 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and also imposed highest fine of Rs 2.43 lakh on him; accused used to operate Sai Viklang Ashram for physically challenged and sexually assaulted minors at the Ashram.
The fine which is one of the highest by POCSO court imposed would be used for the rehabilitation of the victims.
The accused was sentenced in the court of Kumudini Patel in which accused was sentenced 10 years of imprisonment for case under section 376(2)(N), 377(3) of the IPC and 1 year of imprisonment for case under section 323 and 374 of the IPC.
According to prosecution, the accused MP Awasthi, had raped the mentally challenged victim while she was living at the ashram after her parents left her at ashram.
The accused raped her several times from the year 2010 to 2011. After raping her, the accused along with Meeta Misra would force her to do dishes and laundry and cleaning work.
The rapist also intimidated her not to tell anybody about the incident. The victim started to live in Indore after marriage and two other victims have claimed that the accused had done unnatural sex with them.
Notably, the accused has been sentenced for molestation of differently abled children at his ashram, he was sentenced for 5 years under section 9 and 10 of the POSCO Act.