Speed Post News Network
Patna : A Patna court on December 21, 2018, sentenced to life imprisonment suspended RJD MLA from Nawada Raj Ballabh Prasad, 55, and two others convicts in a case related to rape of a minor girl at his Biharsharif ( Nalanda) residence on February 6, 2016. Three other convicts were sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the case. The court sentenced Raj Ballabh to life imprisonment under sections 376 (rape) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act.
The court had convicted the 6 accused including four women on December 15, 2018. The quantum of punishment was pronounced on December 21, 2018. Raj Ballabh, a former minister, now stands to lose his Bihar Assembly membership. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. The other two convicts sentenced to life imprisonment were slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 each. A fine of Rs 10,000 each was imposed on the remaining three convicts.
Raj Ballabh had evaded arrest for long but finally surrendered after a local court issued a proclamation notice and an order to attach his properties. He had later secured bail from Patna High Court, which was cancelled by the Supreme Court in November , 2016.