80-year-old Kerala man gets 45-year jail for raping minor girl

A Kerala court has sentenced a 80-year man to a cumulative 45 years imprisonment for repeatedly raping a 14-year-old girl who lived near his shop in this high-range district of the state.

Idukki Fast Track Special Court judge T G Varghese handed down varying sentences to the man under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for a total of 45 years, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Shijo Mon Joseph said.

However, as the sentences have to be served concurrently and the highest of the jail terms given to the man was 20 years, he will be serving 20 years in prison, the SPP said.