Judge Asked Her to Settle and Now She’s Married to Her Rapist

Judge asked a rape victim to compromise with her rapist. She resisted but eventually married him.

A judgement by Madras High Court Justice P Devadass in which he suggested a rape victim (then a minor) should settle with the rapist had created much furore. But six months later, it seems the girl who had vehemently opposed the idea of marrying the rapist earlier, has changed her mind.

On December 30, the Mahila Court acquitted Mohan from the case, after it was informed that the two have got married.

He put drugs in my cool drink and raped me. When I became pregnant, he threatened me, told me to have an abortion. Why should I marry that man?

The Victim

The accused, A Mohan had raped a minor girl (then 15 years) in 2008 and had been sentenced to 7 years in prison in 2012. The convict had then moved the Madras High Court, which lead to the bizarre order by Justice P Devadass.

After the rape, he threatened me with pictures he took of me when I was unconscious. When I gave birth, one of his friends said they will smother my child with a pillow. That is why I left to work outside. I don’t want to see him, talk to him or marry him.

The Victim

In October, another judge of the Madras High Court referred the case back to the trial court as doubts had been raised about her age at the time of the crime. The woman gave birth to a girl who is now studying in Class 2.

The rape victim’s brother confirmed that his sister had married Mohan.

I don’t know how they convinced her or what the ‘deal’ was. I have cut ties.

Victim’s brother

An engagement ceremony between Mohan and his cousin had been stopped by irate villagers before the June judgement.

After the story broke out in June, the 22-year-old woman and her child had been brought to Chennai and were living at a shelter home. With the help of a few journalists and activists, a job was secured for the woman and school admission arranged for the child.

I am not sure how this happened. She went back to her village after the November deluge in Chennai. The child’s admission will need to be cancelled.

The journalist who helped her

She had repeatedly told everyone that Mohan only wanted to marry her to pave the way for his acquittal and then marry someone else. We will need to keep a watch,” said the journalist who had helped the victim.