Pramodini Roul acid attack case: Prime accused gets 14-year RI

Jagatsinghpur: A local court in Jagatsinghpur district today sentenced prime accused Santosh Kumar Bedanta to 14 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) in 2009 Pramodini Roul acid attack case.

Hearing a case, the Assistant Sessions Judge (Women’s Court), Jagatsinghpur, held Santosh Kumar Bedanta alias Bapi and Biswajit Dalsinghray alias Anil guilty for offence punishable under sections 307/326/34 of IPC and convicted them under section 235(2) of CrPC.

As per the order, the convicts will undergo 9 years RI and to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 in default to suffer RI for 6 months for the offence and 5 years RI and to pay fine of Rs 5,000 in default to suffer RI for 3 months.

The acid attack survivor’s husband Saroj Sahu and her mother were present inside the courtroom during hearing today.

Pramodini’s life was changed when a paramilitary jawan Santosh Kumar Bedanta attacked her with acid on May 4, 2009, in Jagatsinghpur after she rejected his marriage proposal. She was only 16 years old when the incident occurred. She suffered 80 percent burns and lost her vision. She was in ICU for around nine months and spent a painful life for five years in hospitals in Cuttack.

On May 1, 2021, Pramodini tied the knot with her beau Saroj Sahu setting an example of true love for everyone.

Also Read: Acid attack survivor Pramodini Roul to tie the knot today

“I thank Naveen Patnaik for his support as he replied to my tweet after which the case was expedited,” Pramodini said after the quantum of punishment was announced.

Expressing that she was not satisfied with the judgement, she said: “I would move the High Court seeking stricter punishment for the tormentor.”