A man, who despite having divorced his wife without the latter’s knowledge, was held guilty of rape for continuing to stay with his wife. On knowing the secret act of her husband, the victim woman had lodged a case seeking justice.
A court here sentenced him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 on Tuesday. The court also ordered that failing to pay the fine, he would have to undergo another three months’ imprisonment.
Parthsarati Behera, an engineer, had love marriage with one Nirupama Nayak, a resident of Koel Nagar area of the city. Both had married in Rourkela Sub registrar court on February 20, 2003. Parthasarati’s father Ajit Kumar Behera was then working as professor in the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela. Members of both the family had come to know about the court marriage of Parthasarathi and Nirupama, after which both the family had solemnized their marriage as per Hindu rituals on November 28, 2003.
The couple, however, could not continue good relationship for long. In April 2008, when the couple was staying separately at Koelnagar area of the city, Nirupama had lodged a complaint in Women Police Station of Rourkela, alleging that she was being regularly tortured by her husband for dowry. The matter, however, had been settled after intervention of family members of both. But again in June 2008, Nirupama lodged another complaint with similar allegation, which was again settled by their family members in presence of some senior judicial authority.
Parthasarathi allegedly had developed extra marital affairs with another girl of the city, who was then working in his consultancy firm. The disturbances between the husband and wife continued, but they were living together. On April 4, 2012, suddenly, Nirupama had come to know that her husband has already got a divorce from her, from the family court without her knowledge on January 20, 2012. Since, Parthasarathi was continuing to stay with Nirupama even after getting the divorce, Nirupama filed a case in the Women Police Station. Accordingly, a case was registered under Sections 376, 498 (a), 420 and 34 of the IPC.
While hearing of the case, Additional District and Sessions Judge Sanjay Keshari Swain held Parthasarathi guilty.