Idukki: A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹2 lakh for raping a bedridden woman and causing her pregnancy under the guise of providing medical treatment. The verdict was delivered by Thodupuzha Additional Sessions Judge Laijumol Sherif against Shibu Antony of Kothamangalam Kavalangad.

The incident dates back to 2013. The survivor, a resident of Santhanpara, belonged to an underprivileged family and was paralysed below the waist. Shibu Antony allegedly gained her trust by claiming he could provide relief through a “special massage treatment.”

At the time of the assault, no one else was present in the house. When the survivor became pregnant, he reportedly assured her family that he would marry and protect her. He later took her to the hospital for delivery, claiming he would cover the medical expenses.

Shibu Antony had been absconding and was finally arrested on February 3, 2014, when he visited his mother. The testimonies of the survivor and a social worker/Anganwadi worker played a key role in securing the conviction.

The case was prosecuted by Additional Public Prosecutor V.S. Abhilash, with the investigation conducted by Santhanpara SHO T.A. Yunus and C.R. Pramod.