The Delhi High Court has sentenced a woman to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for helping in the commission of rape, stressing that her continued involvement in criminal activities left no room for leniency.

The bench of Justice Chandrasekharan Sudha passed the sentencing order while hearing an appeal filed by the State against her earlier acquittal.

In the said matter, the Court found that the woman had played an active and deliberate role in the crime — she influenced the victim, stayed present during the rape, and later threatened her.

During the sentencing hearing, the convict requested a lighter punishment, citing that she had faced a long trial, spent about nine months in custody, and had a five-year-old child with no one to look after her.

However, the Court refused to reduce the sentence. It noted that even after this incident, the woman continued to be involved in other serious criminal cases, including one under Section 302 IPC, and is currently in judicial custody. This, the Court said, showed a pattern of criminal behaviour rather than a one-time mistake.

The Court also made it clear that when the law prescribes a minimum sentence, judges cannot go below it, regardless of personal circumstances like delay in trial or family responsibilities.

Accordingly, the woman was sentenced under Section 376 IPC read with Section 109 IPC to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹70,000.

Recognising the trauma suffered by the survivor, who fought for justice for more than a decade, the Court directed that ₹50,000 from the fine be given to her as compensation.