2013 Muzaffarnagar Riots: UP Court Convicts Two In A Case Of Gang Rape, Awarded 20-Year Rigorous Imprisonment

A trial court in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district today CONVICTED 2 accused in a case of gang rape of a woman during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots under Section 376(2)(g), 376-D and 506 IPC.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Anjani Kumar Singh convicted accused Maheshvir and Sikander. Another accused Kuldeep died during the course of the trial. The accused have been awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and Rs. 10,000/- fine under Section 367D IPC, 10 years of imprisonment under Section 376 (2)(g) IPC and a fine of Rs. 5000/- and 2 years of imprisonment under Section 506 IPC.

The victim was among the 7 women who had alleged that were raped during the 2013 riots, however, amid threats, 6 women chose not to pursue their case, leaving only the present victim to contest her case in Court. The sole victim was represented and provided assistance by Senior Advocate Vrinda Grover.

The victim was also represented by Advocates Ratna Appnender, Devika Tulsiani, Soutik Banerjee and Mannat Tipnis.

BREAKING: [2013 Muzaffarnagar riots]

A trial court in UP's Muzaffarnagar CONVICTS 2 accused in a case of gang rape of a 27-year-old woman (now 37) during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots under Section 376(2)(g), 376-D and 506 IPC. #MuzaffarnagarRiots pic.twitter.com/WAyOZrLbOi

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 9, 2023

This verdict is significant as only due to the intervention of the Supreme Court in May 2014, a case of Gang rape was registered against the accused persons in a plea filed by seven women through Senior Advocate Vrinda Grover and Advocate  Kamini Jaiswal.

In April this year, Senior Advocate Grover again took the matter to the Supreme Court seeking a fast-track hearing of the case. Pursuant to the Court's direction, a Muzaffarnagar court started hearing her case on a day-to-day basis and today it convicted the two surviving accused in the case.

Speaking to LiveLaw Senior Advocate Vrinda Grover said that this is one of the first cases of conviction under 376(2)(g) IPC (added by way of the 2013 Criminal Law Amendment) which recognises rape during communal violence as a specific offence.

The victim was reportedly beaten up and raped by three men who lived in her village and were frequent customers of her husband, a tailor, and her three-month-old son had been held, hostage.