The Kerala High Court has upheld a 10-year prison sentence imposed on a man convicted of raping and molesting a 73-year-old woman in Thrissur in 2022 on the pretext of driving out an “evil spirit”.

Dismissing the appeal filed by Muhammad of Thrissur against his conviction, Justice A. Badharudeen held that the survivor’s testimony alone was enough to establish guilt, despite a 19-day delay in reporting the crime and discrepancies over the date of the incident. The absence of injuries did not discredit her account, the court said, noting that she had waited to consult her children before approaching the police.

The court also cancelled his bail and directed him to surrender before the trial court to serve the sentence.