4 prison officials convicted of rape

Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu, Jun 21 (UNI) A Fast Track Court here today sentenced four prison officials to ten years imprisonment in the Rita Mary rape case.

In his order, Judge R Dayalan said the CB-CID report, which contained the statements of 100 witnesses, had proved the charges beyond doubt and sentenced Senji Prison Head Warden Lawser and Wardens Jayapal, Anbazhagan and Ramaswamy to undergo ten years imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 1,000 each, failing which they will have to serve one more year in prison.

However, another prison warden, Sekar, was found not guilty by the court.

In 2001, Rita Mary's mother Lilavathi had lodged a complaint with the police accusing the prison officials of raping her daughter who was in the jail in connection with a brothel case.

Following a Madras High Court order, the case was transferred to the CB-CID which enquired the witnesses and submitted the report.

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