Tamil Nadu: Madras HC Increases Compensation Awarded To Sexual Assault Victim By Five Times

The court directed the government to pay 25% of the compensation amount to his father and to deposit the remaining amount in the victim’s name in a bank.

Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras High Court has directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to a minor, who was subjected to sodomy and oral sex for a week after being picked from a bus stand in Erode district. 

According to a report in IANS, a division bench comprising Justice PN Prakash and RN Manjula on Friday enhanced the compensation awarded to the victim by five times. Erode Court had directed the government to pay Rs 1 lakh to the minor who was studying in class VIII. 

The court had directed the state government to pay the compensation from any of its funds within 30 days. The court further asked the government to pay 25 per cent of the compensation amount to his father and to deposit the remaining amount in the victim’s name in a bank and it would be maintained until he attains 18 years. 

About The Case

According to the report, when the victim was waiting for a bus at a bus stand in Erode on November 17, 2016, he was picked up by the accused after assuring him that he would drop the victim at his house.

Instead, the accused took him to a private building, locked him up for a week and subjected him to sodomy and oral sex. The victim escaped from the accused’s custody when he was on a phone call. Reaching home, he explained his ordeal to his parents who in turn lodged a police complaint.

Erode police booked a case under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act and arrested the accused. 

While the defence counsel of the accused argued that the victim had psychiatric issues and his statements should not be taken seriously, the court said that it will not ignore the victim’s statements, the report said.