87-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Rape in Odisha

An 87-year-old man from Odisha’s Ganjam district was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment on Friday for raping a girl nearly 17 years ago.

The special track court, presided over by Judge-cum-Assistant Sessions Judge Soudamin Singh, convicted Saheba Badatya, a resident of Jarada in Ganjam district, based on the evidence presented during the trial. Assistant Public Prosecutor Arati Patnaik confirmed the verdict.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court also imposed a fine of ₹5,000 on the convict.

The case, which had been pending for nearly two decades, finally reached its conclusion with the judgment. Authorities emphasized that the verdict reaffirms the commitment to delivering justice, regardless of the delay.

The prosecution noted that the survivor and her family had relentlessly pursued legal action despite the long legal process. The court’s decision is seen as a step towards upholding justice for victims of sexual offenses.