Court Sentences 18-Year-Old to 20 Years for Role in Classmate's Gang Rape

Severe Punishment for Abetting a Crime

Kendrapara: In a significant ruling, a court in Kendrapara district, Odisha, has sentenced an 18-year-old woman to two decades in prison for her involvement in the gang rape of her classmate that occurred in 2023.

The verdict was delivered by Additional District Judge Pragyan Paramita Roul on Friday, who also imposed a fine of Rs 18,000 on the accused. If she fails to pay the fine, an additional year will be added to her sentence, as stated by special public prosecutor Manoj Kumar Sahu.

Furthermore, the court instructed the Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) to provide Rs 7.50 lakh in compensation to the victim, who was a class 12 student at the time of the incident.

According to case details, the 17-year-old victim was given a drink laced with sedatives by her classmate on October 17, 2023.

Subsequently, two accomplices of the convict transported the victim to a hotel in Cuttack, where they took turns assaulting her.

Following the incident, police apprehended three individuals, including the convicted woman.

Initially, the convict was presented before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Kendrapara due to her age at the time of the crime.

The JJB concluded that she was fully aware of the situation surrounding the offenses and subsequently transferred the case to the Kendrapara court for trial.