A person, accused of raping a minor girl, was sentenced to a day's imprisonment by the sessions court in Mumbai on a 'humanitarian' ground that he had four children and was the only earning member in the family.

Sessions judge Laxmi Rao delivered the verdict on Thursday against 34-year-old Suresh Vanse in a rape case registered in 1992.

According to public prosecutor Lata Chheda, the court said that the accused would be released after one-day's imprisonment since he had agreed to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the victim. The court directed the accused to deposit the compensation amount in the victim's bank account within a week.

The court also observed that the accused had four children, an aged mother and was the only earning member in the family.

According to the prosecution, in September 1992, the accused had a relationship with the victim, who was then a minor and used to work as a maid-servant in his house. Promising her of marriage, Suresh had raped her several times. In December 1992, the victim became pregnant and disclosed the whole incident to her mother. They approached Suresh's family with a marriage proposal, which was declined by him. Thereafter, the victim's mother registered a complaint with the police, leading to Suresh's arrest.