Mumbai: The Bombay high court has upheld the conviction and 10-year imprisonment awarded to a 28-year-old man for raping and forcing a minor
girl into prostitution, observing that the accused ruined the victim’s life.

Justice Sadhana Jadhav in her order noted that the prosecution proved its case against the convict beyond a reasonable doubt.

“It is a pitiful case of a vulnerable girl who was forced into human trafficking by the appellant. This is a fit case where no leniency can be shown to the appellant as he has ruined the life of a minor girl,” she said in her order.

The court was hearing the application of Arabali Ashraf Mulla, a resident of West Bengal, who had challenged a trial court’s order of March 2015 convicting and sentencing him to 10 years in jail. Mulla was held guilty under various Indian Penal Code sections, including rape, and provisions of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act.

According to the prosecution, in November 2011, Mulla lured the victim, who was then 15, out of her home in West Bengal and later married her.

He then allegedly brought her to Dongri and later took her brothel where she was forced into prostitution.

A few days later, the victim managed to call her brother and mother, who then lodged a police complaint.

The victim was subsequently rescued from the couple’s house and Mulla was arrested. After conducting an inquiry, the police filed a chargesheet against him in the sessions court where he was convicted for 10 years.