Special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam says the three repeat offenders had no sense of shame and despite the women begging them to let them go, they said they had committed the crime multiple times and they did not fear the law.

Nikam said the convicts were enjoying the women's distress. "We have to consider the plight of the victim and the social stigma," the court said.  Nikam said rape is another form of murder and the law has to help the victim.

This is the first case where rapists have been given the death sentence when the victim is still alive. In the Delhi gang rape, the five men were given the death sentence for her murder and not rape since the law did not provide for death under the old laws.