The Ramanathapuram District Mahila Court has sentenced three youths to 30 years in prison and imposed a fine of ₹65,000 each in a gang rape case involving a young woman.
According to sources, on March 23, 2022, a college student who had come for a picnic with her boyfriend to Mookaiyur beach near Sayalgudi in Ramanathapuram district was gang-raped after her boyfriend was assaulted and tied up.
Subsequently, the perpetrators extorted and snatched the gold jewellery worn by the woman and the silver jewellery worn by her boyfriend under threat.
In connection with this, the Sayalgudi police registered a case under six sections, including gang rape, criminal intimidation, robbery, and the Prevention of Harassment of Women Act.
They arrested M. Padma Eeswaran, 26, from K. Veppankulam near Kamuthi; S. Dineshkumar, 26, from Nanthakulam near Thiruchuli in Virudhunagar district; D. Ajithkumar, 22, from Pasumpon near Kamuthi; and a 17-year-old minor boy.
Additionally, Padma Eeswaran’s mother, Villammal,45, who had received and kept the stolen jewellery, was also arrested. Later, Padma Eeswaran, Dineshkumar, and Ajithkumar were detained under the Goondas Act.
This case was being heard in the Ramanathapuram District Fast Track Mahila Court.
In this situation, the District Fast Track Mahila Court Judge K. Kavitha sentenced Padma Eeswaran, Dineshkumar, and Ajithkumar to 30 years of imprisonment and ₹50,000 fine each in the gang rape case; seven years of imprisonment and a ₹5,000 fine each under the robbery section; three years of imprisonment and a ₹10,000 fine each in the harassment of woman case; and six years of imprisonment under three other sections.
The judge ruled that these sentences are to be served concurrently.
Villammal, who received the stolen jewelry, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and was slapped a fine of ₹5,000. The judge also ordered that the total fine amount of ₹1.95 lakh be given to the affected woman.
Special Public Prosecutor R. M. Geetha appeared on behalf of the government in this case.