Gang-rape case at the Vellore fort: accused gets life in prison; one gets five years

In a gang rape case that occurred near the Vellore fort in 2020, the Fast Track Mahila Court in Vellore convicted and sentenced two people to life in prison and one to a five-year prison sentence on Wednesday.

G. Manikandan, alias Ada Mani (43) and M. Sakthivel, alias Kozhi (21) were sentenced to life in prison with a fine of 25,000 each, while K. Marimuthu (33), alias Koyyamari, was sentenced to five years in prison with a fine of 5000.

The crime implicated a youngster as well. A 24-year-old lady was gang-raped by three men at a public park in front of the Vellore fort on January 18, 2020, according to police, after being threatened with a knife. Her male companion, a 20-year-old, was assaulted and chased away. Around 9 p.m., the woman and her companion entered the park after it had closed.

According to authorities, the park had only a two-foot fence and it was customary for individuals to loiter after hours. The three males approached the woman and her companion at 9.30 p.m. and began harassing them. They raped the woman and stole her phone and jewelry after chasing her friend away, according to authorities.

She notified her brother about her missing jewelry and phone when she got home. Her brother drove her to the hospital, where she told the physicians about the incident, prompting them to call the cops.

On February 5, 2020, police arrested all three defendants, as well as the youngster, and submitted a charge sheet. Manikandan and Sakthivel were found guilty under sections 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping a kidnapped or abducted person in confinement), 392 (robbery), 376D (gang rape), and 109 of the Indian Penal Code (abetment). Marimuthu was found guilty under section 368 of the Indian Penal Code (wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, a kidnapped or an abducted person).

Vellore SP S. Rajesh Kannan presented certificates of gratitude to the investigating team later in the day.