Sonipat law school rape: SC stays HC order to suspend sentence of 3 rape convicts

The trial court had convicted the trio on May 24 this year of gangrape and criminal conspiracy and under provisions of the Information Technology Act. Two of them —- Hardik Sikri and his friend Karan Chhabra — were sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. Vikas Garg was sentenced to jail for seven years.

On appeal by the convicts, the High Court suspended their sentences and granted them bail.

Appearing for the girl, senior counsel Colin Gonsalves brought the High Court order to the attention of the apex court.

According to the FIR, the girl had taken admission in Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, in August 2013 and got acquainted with one of the accused. She had alleged that the accused, who became a good friend, raped her and forced her to send her obscene pictures and later blackmailed her. Subsequently, the two other accused also raped her on the campus after which she lodged an FIR in April 2015.

While suspending their sentence on September 13, the HC cited the victim’s casual relationships and lack of “gut wrenching violence” as “compelling reasons” behind its order.