A New Delhi court reduced Vikas' sentence from 30 years to 10 years after changing his conviction from a severe form of sexual assault to an attempt.
On December 24, 2018, a serious incident occurred in Sangam Vihar, New Delhi, involving Vikas and a young girl. Vikas was initially found guilty under laws for a severe form of sexual assault, resulting in a 30-year sentence.
The young victim, along with her mother, reported the crime to the police on December 24, 2018. The victim stated that Vikas, known to her as "Chhotu Bhaiya," wrongfully kept her in a room and committed the assault in her aunt's room while her friend was sent outside. The police registered the case under FIR No. 564/2018.
The trial began with charges set on May 28, 2019. The prosecution brought six witnesses, including the victim and her mother, who shared consistent stories. Despite the defense's attempts to question these stories, the court found them believable.
Vikas appealed the decision, arguing differences in the victim's statements and issues with the trial process. His lawyer pointed out inconsistencies about where the crime happened and the delay in the victim's medical check-up. They also argued that Vikas was wrongly identified and that someone else might have been responsible.
Upon review, the court found that while the victim's story was consistent, there was doubt about actual penetration, a key factor for the initial conviction. Thus, the court changed Vikas' conviction to an attempt to commit a severe form of sexual assault, reducing his sentence to 10 years.
The court maintained the conviction for wrongfully keeping the victim in a room and upheld the fines. This decision, made on February 27, 2026, by Judges Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja, shows the judicial system's efforts to ensure justice while balancing evidence standards.
