Rape victim converts to Islam to marry accused

New Delhi: A rape victim has told a city court that she wants to marry her
violator. Almost four years after Sheila was allegedly raped by Ali
(both names changed), she has converted to Islam and is ready to accept
him as her husband.

She told the court that her marriage to Ali was necessary to end the social stigma she  faced since 2005.

The drama unfolded on Thursday in the court of Additional Sessions Judge V.K. Khanna during the hearing of the bail plea of Ali.

Sheila, who had earlier identified the accused and deposed against
him in court, pleaded that after registration of the case in 2005,
people in her locality were constantly maligning the image of her
family. “The rape case has made my life hell and jeopardised my future
prospects of leading a happy married life. I want to marry Ali, as our
marriage would end my ordeal,” Sheila told the court.

She even requested the court to release the accused on bail, so he could marry her.

But the prosecution vehemently opposed Ali’s bail plea. Maintaining
that rape was not a compoundable offence, the public prosecutor said it
was simply a ploy of the accused to escape punishment.

The court dismissed Ali’s bail plea saying rape was a criminal case
and the accused should be punished for the crime. “The mother of the
accused had approached the victim and put pressure on her for the
marriage. It is a ploy to organise a false marriage ceremony to get the
accused out of the jail,” said advocate Banju, who is associated with
the Rape Crisis Cell, Delhi Commission of Women.

The accused has now filed another application requesting the court to allow him marry the victim in judicial custody.

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