Nawada minor rape case: RJD leader Raj Ballabh Yadav sentenced to life imprisonment, fined Rs 50,000

Suspended Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Raj Ballabh Yadav, who on December 15, was convicted in 2016 Nawada minor rape case, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000, according to reports. Besides Yadav, five others were convicted on Wednesday by a Patna court in the case pertaining to the rape and confinement of a minor girl at the legislator's residence in Bihar's Nawada. Yadav was suspended from the RJD, immediately after the incident of the minor rape in his Biharsharif residence came to light on February 6, 2016.

"2016 Nawada minor rape case: Convicted Bihar RJD leader Raj Ballabh Yadav sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000," the news agency ANI reported.

2016 Nawada minor rape case: Convicted Bihar RJD leader Raj Ballabh Yadav sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000.

— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2018

Read | 1984 anti-Sikh riots case: Sajjan Kumar's plea seeking more time to surrender rejected

The court of special judge-(MP's/MLA's cases)-cum-Additional District and Sessions Judge Parshuram Yadav on December 15 pronounced the judgment against Yadav, adding that the quantum of punishment will be announced on December 21. After absconding for around one month, Yadav had in March 2016 surrendered before a chief magistrate's court in Nalanda and was sent to jail.

Raj Ballabh was held under Section 376 of the India Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act-2012. The other accused, which includes three women, were found guilty of "supplying girls to the MLA as well as luring the victim and keeping her in confinement overnight".

Though Yadav was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 30, the Supreme Court subsequently cancelled the bail and ordered him to surrender in the Bihar lower court.

Read | 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Delhi High Court upholds conviction of 80 people, awards 5-year jail term

Several leaders from the ruling BJP and the JD-U have lauded and welcomed the court's decision to convict the RJD leader in the 2016 Nawada minor rape case.