Rape accused Muslim gets 8-yr RI

KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode District and Sessions Court, on Thursday, awarded eight-year rigorous imprisonment to a 37-year-old father of three children, who was found guilty of raping a dalit woman after promising to marry her.

Judge Thomas P Joseph awarded three-year RI under section 420 of the IPC (cheating) and eight-year RI under section 376 (rape) to Basheer, son of Imbichi Moidy, Pullaru House, Ulliyeri near Koyilandy. The jail term would run concurrently.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 to be given as compensation to the victim, within six months. In case of default, the accused will have to undergo an additional two-year rigorous imprisonment.

As per the prosecution, Basheer, aged 33 at the time of the crime, and the 24-year-old woman from an SC community were neighbours and were working with the Al Saritha Furniture Company at Ulliyeri. Basheer, after promising to marry the woman, took her to various places including Sulthan Bathery, Palakkad, Gudallur and Ootty and sexually exploited her for a week from August 27, 2002.

Basheer, a painter by profession, has a wife and three children.

A case was registered with the Atholi police station and DySP KP Asu was the investigating officer. The court examined nine witnesses and 19 exhibits were marked besides two material objects. District public prosecutor MK Abdul Salim appeared for the prosecution.