Ex-Air Force personnel rapes daughter for years, told her 'Every father loves his daughter this way'

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A court in Dehradun has sentenced a former Air Force personnel to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case involving sexual assault of his minor daughter.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, with the court making strong remarks on the gravity of the offence. It observed that the convict, who had a duty to protect his child, instead caused irreversible harm to her physical and mental well-being, and held that no leniency could be granted in such a case.

Special Judge (POCSO) Archana Sagar also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the accused and directed him to pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation to the victim.

According to the prosecution, the victim told the court that the abuse began when she was very young and continued for several years. She said she was misled into believing that the acts were normal and that every father loves his daughter this way. She was repeatedly threatened to prevent her from speaking about it.

In November 2023, when the victim was 17 years old, she finally informed her mother about the ordeal. A police complaint was filed the same day, following which the former Indian Air Force personnel was arrested. The case was tried under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.