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HYDERABAD: A Nalgonda district court on Thursday sentenced Nallabothu Jagan, a lorry driverto 27 years of rigorous imprisonment for luring a Dalit woman in the name of love, impregnating her, and later abandoning her.
Jagan deceived the woman with false promises of marriage, but after she became pregnant, he deserted her, citing her caste and the fact that he was already married. The survivor, now 27 years old, has a five-year-old son.
N Roja Ramani, I Additional District Judge cum SC & ST cases court judge, sentenced Jagan to ten years for rape, ten years under the SC&ST Act, and seven years for cheating, with all sentences running concurrently. He was also fined Rs 3,000, said Nalgonda police officials. SP Sharat Chandra Pawar commended the prosecution, investigation team, and court duty officers for securing a conviction in the case.
According to the police, the survivor, who worked as a tailor in Nalgonda, met Jagan through her cousin, who was his colleague. Jagan frequently accompanied her cousin on visits, which led to them forming a relationship. He assured her of marriage, gaining her trust.
However, after she became pregnant and informed him, Jagan refused to marry her, forcing her to lodge a case. Police arrested him, and after she gave birth, they collected his DNA sample, confirming through forensic reports that he was the child’s biological father.
Taking into account the survivor’s statement, the DNA report, and other evidence, the court found him guilty, said a police official.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)