CHENNAI: A child's trauma at being sexually abused by her father, a mother's initial attempt to protect her without reporting the crime, a phone call from an aunt in Singapore that led to the ghastly secret inadvertently tumbling out, and a long, bumpy road to justice.
Seven years of silence, fear, doubt, blackmail and legal complexities culminated recently in a Pocso trial court verdict that sent the convicted offender - a Chennai builder - to 20 years in jail. The abuse had started in April 2018, with the father targeting his then five-year-old daughter on the pretext of bathing her. When the child complained to her mother about what she was being subjected to, it led to regular fights between husband and wife.
The child, already traumatised, further withdrew into her shell when she saw her parents quarrel. The abuse continued, but she would no longer complain lest the domestic situation worsen. The mother purportedly saw in her daughter's eyes what she couldn't express, so she sent the child to a relative's house in Thiruvarur district, 300km from Chennai.
The crime might have been buried forever had the survivor's maternal aunt not called the relative's house one day and asked to speak to her niece.
During the conversation, the child confided in her aunt that she was "finally happy" as she no longer faced "torture". Some prodding led to the survivor narrating her ordeal and naming her father as the culprit.
The aunt flew down to Tamil Nadu within days and took her niece to a hospital, where medical tests confirmed injuries indicating sexual abuse .
Based on the medical findings, a Pocso case was filed, and the father was arrested. In 2023, the girl's mother moved Madras high court and secured custody of her daughter. This coincided with the trial court denying bail to the father, citing his daughter's testimony.
Over the next year, the mother allegedly tutored the child to retract her statements about being abused by her father. Although the court allowed the girl weekly visits to her aunt, her mother retained custody.
At a hearing last week, the survivor told the court that no abuse of the kind she had previously detailed ever happened and that she wished for her family to live together. Despite the child denying she was abused, Pocso court judge M Rajalakshmi relied on her original statement - backed by her medical report - to deliver the verdict the girl's determined aunt and the prosecution were waiting to hear. The convict was also fined Rs 1 lakh.
Seven years of silence, fear, doubt, blackmail and legal complexities culminated recently in a Pocso trial court verdict that sent the convicted offender - a Chennai builder - to 20 years in jail. The abuse had started in April 2018, with the father targeting his then five-year-old daughter on the pretext of bathing her. When the child complained to her mother about what she was being subjected to, it led to regular fights between husband and wife.
The child, already traumatised, further withdrew into her shell when she saw her parents quarrel. The abuse continued, but she would no longer complain lest the domestic situation worsen. The mother purportedly saw in her daughter's eyes what she couldn't express, so she sent the child to a relative's house in Thiruvarur district, 300km from Chennai.
The crime might have been buried forever had the survivor's maternal aunt not called the relative's house one day and asked to speak to her niece.
During the conversation, the child confided in her aunt that she was "finally happy" as she no longer faced "torture". Some prodding led to the survivor narrating her ordeal and naming her father as the culprit.
The aunt flew down to Tamil Nadu within days and took her niece to a hospital, where medical tests confirmed injuries indicating sexual abuse .
Based on the medical findings, a Pocso case was filed, and the father was arrested. In 2023, the girl's mother moved Madras high court and secured custody of her daughter. This coincided with the trial court denying bail to the father, citing his daughter's testimony.
Over the next year, the mother allegedly tutored the child to retract her statements about being abused by her father. Although the court allowed the girl weekly visits to her aunt, her mother retained custody.
At a hearing last week, the survivor told the court that no abuse of the kind she had previously detailed ever happened and that she wished for her family to live together. Despite the child denying she was abused, Pocso court judge M Rajalakshmi relied on her original statement - backed by her medical report - to deliver the verdict the girl's determined aunt and the prosecution were waiting to hear. The convict was also fined Rs 1 lakh.
You may also like
'Stop shooting and sign a deal': Trump to Putin after meeting Zelenskyy
Over 800 airstrikes conducted in Yemen in past month, US military says
Hoover beats Shark and Amazon with £140 off 'powerful' cordless vacuum in 56% price drop
Canada elections 2025: Key candidates, major parties, issues - All you need to know
Pakistan violates ceasefire for fourth consecutive night, India responds
