A special fast track court in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday (November 28, 2025) sentenced a 41-year-old man to 78 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹4.75 lakh for repeatedly sexually assaulting his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
Special Judge Anju Meera Birla delivered the verdict. The court ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional four and a half years in prison. The court also ordered that the amount of the fine be handed over to the survivor and further ordered the District Legal Services Office to provide reasonable compensation.
According to the prosecution led by special public prosecutor RS Vijay Mohan, the incident took place in 2023 under Fort police station limits when the child was studying in class seven. After separating from her first husband, the child’s mother entered into a relationship with the accused and later married him. A few months after the wedding, the man began to sexually abuse the girl several times.
The survivor initially did not disclose the ordeal to anyone after the accused threatened her to keep quiet. The abuse came to light when the girl’s younger brother witnessed one such incident and informed their mother. During the confrontation, the defendant not only denied responsibility, but also brutally assaulted the mother. A criminal complaint was filed with the police after the incident.
The court rejected the accused’s request for leniency in view of the seriousness of the crime. The prosecution heard 17 witnesses, presented 28 documents and five physical objects. Fort Circle Inspector Rakesh J led the investigation.
Published – 28 Nov 2025 20:16 IST
