The conviction comes nine years after the assault, which occurred in the early hours of August 26, 2017 inside the home of the elderly woman in the jurisdiction of Santhapeta police station.
At the time of the crime, Penchalayya was 19 years old and a resident of Porlukatta in Nellore city. He entered the victim’s house and forced himself on the woman, who was confined to bed.
Family members noticed a sudden deterioration in the victim’s health and rushed her to the Government General Hospital. Medical staff treated her and promptly informed the police of the suspected assault.
Based on the doctors’ report and the victim’s statement, Santhapeta police registered a case under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The investigation and trial were tracked through the Court Monitoring System (CMS), a police mechanism that ensures timely production of witnesses and evidence in serious cases.
The court sentenced Penchalayya to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1,000 for the rape charge under Section 376(1) of the IPC. He also received a seven‑year rigorous term for criminal intimidation under Section 506, with both sentences to run concurrently, meaning the ten‑year term will be the total period of incarceration.