Thiruvananthapuram: A man who sexually abused his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life and fined Rs 50,000 by a fast-track special court here on Friday.

The accused will have to serve an additional year in jail if the fine is not paid.

The incident pertaining to the case dates to February 2018. The accused used to sleep along with his wife and child. The woman's parents also stayed with them.

After the child used to cry frequently and complained of pain while urinating the mother found injuries on its private parts.

When asked about the injuries the child kept crying, it is learned.

The mother then doubted her husband as he reportedly was suspicious of her and used to harass her saying the child was not his. He even demanded DNA testing to determine the father of the child.

One night the mother reportedly saw the man abusing the child and when she screamed he threatened her. After he repeated the abuse and as the injuries appeared serious, the child was hospitalised.

It was following the doctors' intervention that a police complaint was registered. The child recovered after months of treatment.

Special public prosecutor RS Vijay Mohan appeared for the prosecution.

The court ruled that the accused deserved no leniency as he had sexually abused his own child saying it wasn't his. The court heard 13 witnesses and examined 17 documents before pronouncing the verdict.