Thiruvananthapuram: A chance fingerprint and key forensic evidence helped Kerala Police crack a 2017 rape and theft case, leading to the conviction of a 34-year-old man from Nedumangad.

The Thiruvananthapuram Additional District Court sentenced the accused, Shefeek, to 21 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 57-year-old woman and stealing her gold studs. Judge M P Shibu also imposed a fine of ₹60,000.

The crime took place on the night of April 6, 2017. The 57-year-old survivor, who lived alone in Kannanthura in Thiruvananthapuram district, had gone to bed around 11 pm. Around 2.30 am, she woke up to find an unknown man standing in her room. Afraid for her life, she pleaded with him and offered money and gold to make him leave.

Instead, the accused verbally abused her, grabbed her by the neck, and forced her into another room where her cupboard was kept. She handed over ₹2,000 and a pair of gold ear studs. He then sexually assaulted her. Before leaving the house around 4.30 am, he drank water, threw ₹2,000 on the floor, and fled with the earrings.

The survivor informed her family the next morning. Her nephew, who visited her home, found her tired and noticed swelling on her face. He took her to the General Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram for treatment.

The breakthrough in the investigation came when fingerprint expert Arun Kumar from the Single Digit Fingerprint Bureau collected 25 chance prints from the scene. Two fingerprints—one from the left middle finger and the other from the left ring finger—were found on the jewellery box. These matched with prints stored in connection with a 2010 case at Fort Police Station.

Police identified the suspect as Shefeek, a repeat offender involved in multiple theft cases. During interrogation, he confessed to breaking into the house. He also admitted that he had pledged the stolen earrings—4.20 grams in weight—at Mini Muthoot Nidhi in Valiyathura the next day for a loan of ₹8,900.

Further, he confessed to stealing a gold chain from another woman and pledging it for ₹43,000. While most of the money had already been spent, police recovered the remaining amount from him during his arrest.

The defence argued that the survivor had long-standing mental health issues and was on medication for depression and hallucinations. They claimed her testimony could not be fully trusted. However, the court rejected this claim, stating that the prosecution’s case was well-supported by scientific evidence, medical reports, and witness accounts.

The investigation was led by Valiyathura Inspectors K B Manoj Kumar and V Ashokakumar. Public Prosecutor J K Ajith Prasad and Advocate V C Bindhu appeared for the prosecution.