The Mahila Court here on Friday (July 17) sentenced a man and themother of two minor girls to double life imprisonment till the end of their natural lives for sexually assaulting the girls and abetting the offence respectively.
The convicts were identified as Manivannan (33), a day labourer from Kallakurichi district, and Savitha (36) from Erode district. Judge C. Sornakumar also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh each on the two convicts.
According to the prosecution, the two children, then aged 11 and 9, resided at a government children’s home after their parents separated. Savitha later began living with Manivannan. On April 1, 2023, she brought the girls home reportedly to open bank accounts for them. During their stay, Manivannan subjected both girls to repeated sexual assault and threatened to kill them if they disclosed the abuse.
The girls informed their mother about the assaults, but instead of reporting the matter or taking action, she instructed them not to reveal the incidents, thereby facilitating the offence.
After Savitha returned the girls to the children’s home on April 11, 2023, they developed health complications and were admitted to the Government Erode Medical College Hospital in Perundurai. Medical examination revealed evidence of sexual assault, following which the superintendent of the children’s home lodged a complaint with the All Women Police Station in Erode.
The police registered a case against Manivannan under relevant sections of the POCSO Act and for criminal intimidation, and against Savitha for abetment. Both were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. During the pendency of the trial, one of the two victims died.
In the judgment, the court recommended that the State government provide ₹6 lakh as compensation to the surviving girl. Special Public Prosecutor M. Jayanthi appeared for the prosecution.
Published - July 17, 2026 09:02 pm IST