Chennai: A 37-year-old history-sheeter has been sentenced to undergo 10 years rigorous imprisonment for abducting and raping a minor girl. On the pretext of getting her admission into a college, he had abducted the girl.

According to the prosecution, M. Kannan of Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar district, contacted Raghavan and Raghini, (names changed), of Thiruchengode, Namakkal, over phone and informed them that he was calling from the secretariat in Chennai. He promised them that he would get admission for their daughter, Sumalatha (name changed) (16) in a college.

Hoping to get the seat, Raghavan and Raghini came to Chennai along with Sumalatha in a taxi. On December 19, 2011, Kannan diverted the attention of her parents and abducted the girl near Vadapalani, to Tiruchy. Using a fake name, he booked a room in a lodge at Samayapuram, near Tiruchy. Promising to marry her, he raped the girl in the lodge. Later, he had forcibly her to Thiruparankundram and stayed in a room.

On December 23, he was caught by the police in Mattuthavani bus stand in Madurai. On information, the family and Choolaimedu police rushed to Madurai and brought them to Chennai and produced them before the court.

The Choolaimedu police registered case against Kannan under sections 506 (2) (criminal intimidation), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 366 (A) (kidnapping for ransom, etc.), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 376 (punishment for rape) of IPC.

On completion of trial, mahila court judge Meena Sathish sentenced Kannan to undergo a year of RI for committing an offence under section 342, three years under 506 (2), 10 years each for offence committed under sections 360 (A) and 376. The sentences will run concurrently, the judge said. The judge has not levied a fine since he has remained in prison since the arrest.

According to special public prosecutor, Gowri Asokan, Kannan was already accused in a number of theft and other cases in the past.