MUMBAI: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has upheld the conviction of a man for raping his 55-year-old mother-in-law in December 2018, describing the act as “shameful” and a gross abuse of trust.
Justice G.A. Sanap, presiding over the case, stated on Tuesday, “The appellant (convict), who is the son-in-law of the prosecutrix (victim), has committed this shameful act with his mother-in-law, who is of an age comparable to his own mother. He exploited the relationship for his own benefit. The victim could not have imagined in her wildest dreams that her son-in-law would commit such a deplorable act.”
Background and Conviction
The court found the evidence sufficient to uphold the man’s conviction, which was initially handed down by a sessions court in March 2022. He was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment for the crime.
The case arose after the victim reported that her son-in-law had visited her and demanded she take steps to reconcile him with her daughter, from whom he was separated. The couple’s two children were in his custody. Under pressure, the victim agreed to accompany him to his house. On the way, he consumed alcohol and raped her three times.
The man argued that the sexual encounters were consensual, but the High Court rejected his claim. “Reporting such a matter to the police invites stigmatic consequences. If it was a consensual act, she would not have reported it at all,” the court noted.
A Violation of Trust
The judgment emphasized the gravity of the crime, highlighting the betrayal of trust and familial bonds. The court noted that the survivor viewed her son-in-law as her own son and could not have anticipated such a heinous act.
This case reaffirms the court’s commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for crimes of sexual violence, especially in situations where relationships of trust are exploited.
