Model Siddesh Juvekar being whisked away by police after being sentenced to seven years in jail for rape. Santosh Mirajkar
Goan model Siddesh Juvekar was on Thursday sentenced to seven years imprisonment for the rape of a girl from Navelim, with a further direction to pay compensation to the tune of Rs seven lakh to the victim for cheating.
South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Sherin Paul, who had convicted Siddesh earlier this week, pronounced the sentence in the open court on Thursday evening. Soon after the Judge pronounced the sentence in the court room, the lawyer representing the accused moved an application seeking time to surrender, but Judge Sherin Paul rejected the application saying there’s no provision in the law to grant the plea. The accused was later whisked by police personnel out of the court premises to a waiting police jeep. In her brief order, Judge Paul said “considering that the fact that this is a case wherein the rape is proved to be on the pretext of marriage, I am of the opinion that the accused is to be sentenced with simple imprisonment for a term of seven years under section 376 of the IPC and fine of Rs 10,000 and in default to undergo further imprisonment of three months”.
Public prosecutor, Clarita Simoes said that for the offense punishable under section 420 of the IPC, the Judge sentenced the accused to simple imprisonment for a period of three years and to pay Rs seven lakh as compensation to the victim considering the fact that it is established that the accused cheated the victim of Rs five lakh and also considering the interest on this amount.
While the accused has disclosed plans to challenge the order of the Additional Sessions court in the High Court, Adv Aires Rodrigues, appearing for the victim girl, told the media that the victim would knock the doors of the High Court for enhancement of the sentence.
Dissatisfied that the minimum sentence of seven years was imposed on the convict, Adv Aires said the victim will appeal to the High Court with a plea to impose maximum sentence provided under the law on the accused Siddesh Juvekar for the heinous crime as rape was a very serious crime against one’s mind, psyche and reputation leaving a permanent scar on the life of the victim.
Siddesh Juvekar on November 13, 2013 was chargesheeted by then Colva Police Inspector Nilesh Rane on charges of rape and cheating. He was accused of having repeated forcible sexual intercourse with the victim girl under the false promise of marrying her. He was further charged with cheating the victim to the tune of over Rs five lakh by taking money from her on the false pretext of starting a business.
He, however, was on July 4, 2014 discharged by the then South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Vandana Tendulkar without going through the trial. The victim girl through Adv Aires Rodrigues later filed a Criminal Writ Petition in the High Court challenging the order discharging the accused, with the Court directing the accused to appear before the Margao Sessions Court and to face trial for the alleged offences. The Court also further directed that the trial be completed within six months.
