Kerala Court Sentences Ambulance Driver to Life for Raping 19-Year-Old COVID Patient

The Kerala Court has sentenced an ambulance driver to life imprisonment for raping a 19-year-old COVID-19 patient which transporting her to a Covid-19 care centre in 2020.

The accused was driving a government ambulance, deviated from the assigned route, and took the vehicle to a remote area where he sexually assaulted the patient.

He was found guilty under multiple sections of the IPC, including assault and rape, as well as the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as the survivor belongs to a Scheduled Caste.

A video recorded by the survivor after the incident became a key piece of evidence. The court also imposed a ₹1,08,000 fine, to be paid as compensation to the survivor.