Rapist cop sentenced to 12 yr RI

Mumbai, Apr 3: Dismissed constable Sunil Atmaram More, who raped a teenaged college girl in broad daylight inside a police outpost at Marine Drive in South Mumbai last year, was today sentenced to 12 years' rigorous imprisonment by a local court.

Additional Sessions Judge K U Chandiwal, who presided over the infamous rape case, in his judgement said the police constable, who is to maintain law and order and protect the lives of others, had committed the crime which resulted in public outcry and left a mental scar on the victim.

The judge held More guilty of raping the 17-yr-old girl on April 21 last year, under sections 376 (rape), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (2) (threatening) and also imposed a fine of Rs 26,500, failing which he will have to undergo another year of imprisonment.

The court had examined 27 witnesses in the case, including the victim and her boyfriend and on the basis of their testimony before this trial court, convicted More in the rape case.

The statement of the victim was recorded in-camera as was in the case of rape.

However, immediately after the judgement, More told the court, ''I am innocent and had not done anything but I am being framed. I have been awarded punishment of 12 years, but it is better to give a death sentence.''

UNI