On November 17, 75-year-old Asha Ram was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly raping his minor daughter 17 years ago. The verdict came from the apex court, enhancing an earlier five-year sentence earlier passed by the high court.
Now, his daughter has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a review of the verdict. She has also attached an affidavit, saying she was not raped, adding that the FIR was lodged at the instance of her mother who had an estranged relationship with her father.
Now married with two children, the daughter has alleged that the evidence was fabricated. "If I did not depose so against my father at the time, my mother would have harmed me," she has said.
The convict has also argued that the apex court was not correct in enhancing his five-year term to life imprisonment as there was no appeal by the state government against the trial court verdict.
Further, no notice or hearing was given to him on the question of the enhancement of his sentence.
While holding him guilty of the offence, a bench comprising Justice H K Sema and Justice P P Naolekar had observed that 'when the perpetrator of the crime is the father against his own daughter it is more rarest of rare, which warrants deterrent judicial hand'.
The bench had also expressed 'displeasure' and 'dismay' against the high court for acquitting the accused.
