Bagalavan Perier B By

VILLUPURAM: A 23-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment here for cheating a woman after promising to marry her and having physical relationship with her. He was also asked to pay `1 lakh compensation to the woman.

John Gnanaraj (23) of Kasturi Nagar here working in a computer centre near the District Collectorate, fell in love with Anitha (name changed) who was also employed in the same company. John allegedly promised to marry Anitha and had physical relationship with her. When Anitha conceived, he asked her to abort the child and promised to marry her on getting a good job. Believing him, Anitha underwent an abortion.

However, even after months when John refused to marry her, Anitha lodged a complaint at the Villupuram All Women Police Station.

After inquiry, police arrested John and filed a rape and cheating case against him. On Saturday evening principal district judge B Sarojini Devi pronounced her judgment. She said that it was confirmed that John cheated Anitha after making her pregnant and awarded life term for raping Anitha and another year jail term for cheating her.