A Kerala court recently handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Monson Mavunkal, a fake antique dealer, for sexually abusing a minor girl in violation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
Judge K Soman emphasized that Mavunkal repeatedly raped the minor girl, taking advantage of her family’s financial situation, and even performed an abortion on her.
The Additional District and Session Court considered various provisions of the POCSO Act and sections 370 (4), 342, 354 A (1) (iii), 354 (A), 376 (2) (n), 313, 506 (i) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the case against Mavunkal.
The prosecution presented evidence that the accused had committed multiple acts of rape against the 17-year-old girl and unlawfully terminated her pregnancy resulting from the rape. Exploiting the vulnerable living conditions of the minor girl’s family, Monson Mavunkal, the accused, who employed the girl’s mother and her brother, deceitfully presented himself as a cosmetology doctor. He took advantage of their plight and falsely promised to build a house for them while offering to teach the minor girl cosmetology.
Mavunkal, in his defense, denied all allegations and claimed that his rivals fabricated the case against him. He also argued that the minor girl had previously given a statement to the Crime Branch in connection with a cheating case, but had not accused him of rape at that time.
After evaluating the facts, evidence, and circumstances, the court found Mavunkal guilty of repeated rape against the minor girl. As a result, he was convicted, sentenced to life imprisonment, and ordered to pay a fine of ₹5.25 lakh.
