BJP MLA Ramdular Gond Sentenced to 25 Years in Jail for Raping Minor Girl

In a significant development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ramdular Gond has been handed a 25-year jail term by a Sonbhadra court for the heinous crime of raping a minor girl back in 2014. The court presided over by MP-MLA additional district judge Ahsanullah Khan, found Gond guilty under IPC Sections 376 and 506, along with relevant sections of the Pocso Act, and pronounced the stringent sentence on Friday. This includes 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a substantial ₹10 lakh fine, designated entirely for the victim’s compensation and rehabilitation, as per statements made by the survivor’s counsel, Vikas Shakya.

Gond’s conviction stems from an incident in November 2014 when he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl in Myorpur village while she was in a field. Notably, Gond was not an MLA at the time; however, his wife held the position of gram pradhan. The trial for this case initially commenced in a Pocso court but was later transferred to the MP-MLA court following Gond’s election as a legislator. After the sentencing, Gond’s defense counsel pleaded for leniency, promising the court that Gond would extend complete support to the survivor’s family.

This verdict has far-reaching implications for Gond’s political career as, per the Representation of the People Act, a lawmaker facing a sentence of two years or more stands disqualified from holding office from the date of conviction, with an additional six-year disqualification post-serving the term. Consequently, Gond’s assembly membership is at risk following this severe legal outcome.

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