NEW DELHI: Noting that “sexual violence, apart from being a dehumanizing act, is an unlawful intrusion on the right of privacy and sanctity of a female”, the Delhi high court has granted seven years’ rigorous imprisonment to a priest for repeatedly raping a 16-year-old girl in a temple in the capital.

HC slammed the priest saying he disregarded morality and consequence of his act and committed a barbaric offence upon a minor. According to the prosecution, in July 23, 2007, the girl, then 16, had lodged a complaint with police that she was first raped by the priest inside the temple in May 2004 after she fell ill there, and he ravished her several times after blackmailing her. The girl stated that the priest threatened her not to disclose this fact to anyone, otherwise she would be defamed.

Facebook Twitter Linkedin EMail