Sex Doc gets life in jail, his 3 employees 7 yrs

Express News Service

Posted online: Friday, February 08, 2008 at 0008 hrs

Chennai, February 7: A fast-track court on Thursday sentenced Dr L Prakash to life term for his involvement in a cyber pornography racket. The court had convicted Dr Prakash on Wednesday, finding him guilty of offences under the Information Technology Act, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

Dr Prakash was arrested in December 2001 following a complaint by a Puducherry youth that he had been forced to commit sexual acts with women, which were filmed and later posted on websites hosted by the doctor. Prakash was sentenced to life under Section 6 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the maximum punishment for offences relating to detaining persons for the purposes of prostitution.

Fast-track court Judge R Radha also slapped a fine of Rs 1, 27,000 on Dr Prakash. He was sentenced to a 10-year rigorous imprisonment under Section 367 of the IPC (abduction), five years under Section 67 of the IT Act,two years under Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act and another seven years RIunder Section 27 of the Arms Act.

The stringent anti-trafficking law--the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act--was enforced against Dr Prakash based on evidence that proved that many young women were detained in his farm house at Kalanjikuppam in neighbouring Thiruvallur district and forced to have sex. The sexual acts were photographed and filmed and posted on websites or sold as CDs abroad.

Dr Prakash was sentenced under the Arms Act for threatening to kill a girl who refused to comply with his demands. In addition to the prison terms, the doctor was also fined with varying amounts.

Three others, staff members who had worked in his clinic and convicted, including ward boy Saravanan, his driver Vijayan and X-ray technician Asir Gunasingh, were sentenced to seven years in prison each for their involvement in abduction, cyber-pornography and indecent representation of women.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/270423.html