Ahmedabad court sentences man to life imprisonment for repeatedly raping mentally challenged woman

A sessions court in Ahmedabad sentenced Suresh Dabhi alias Gudiyo to rigorous life imprisonment for repeatedly raping a 75 per cent mentally challenged woman with physical disabilities, leading to her pregnancy and subsequent abortion of an 18-month-old foetus in 2023.

The court convicted accused under Section 376(2)(l) of the Indian Penal Code (rape on a woman suffering from mental or physical disability) and awarded him life imprisonment, along with a fine of ₹25,000.

The court relied heavily on scientific evidence, including a DNA report that conclusively established that the autosomal DNA profile of the accused and the victim matched as biological parents of the aborted foetus.

“The two doctors who examined the victim are independent expert witnesses under Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act. There is no reason to disbelieve their testimony,” the court said.

The victim suffers from mental and physical disability, due to which the investigation officer was unable to record her statement under Section 164 of CrPC.

However, when initially examined by Dr Manish Gandhi at Civil Hospital, victim told him in the presence of her mother that a man named ‘Gudiya’ who lived nearby had “done a bad deed” by removing her clothes after taking her to the basement of market four-five months earlier.

The crime came to light on December 8, 2023, when the victim, suffering from fever and vomiting, was taken to a private hospital. Doctors there discovered she had missed her periods. Subsequent examination at another hospital and finally at Civil Hospital confirmed advanced pregnancy. During prolonged questioning by police the victim named ‘Gudiya’ and indicated that a boy by that name lived near the water tank in their locality. Based on this, an FIR was registered at Krishnanagar police station and the accused was arrested.

The defence claimed false implication due to enmity but failed to produce any evidence of past rivalry.