A special court in Madhya Pradesh on Monday sentenced a 79-year-old retired professor and his daughter to life in prison for their role in the rape and harassment of minor girls in an orphanage, PTI reported. Advocate Shaila Agrawal, who used to run the hostel for orphan girls in the state’s Shivpuri district, was also fined Rs 16,000 along with her father KN Agrawal.

The police registered a case against the two on November 16, 2016, after the Child Welfare Society and a child protection officer received a complaint accusing the retired professor of sexually abusing girls at the orphanage. His daughter was accused of abetting the crimes.

The girls reportedly told investigating officials that they were sedated before being sexually assaulted. They also accused Shaila Agarwal of beating them up and threatening them against speaking up. There were 23 girls living in the facility at the time of the inquiry, six of whom were minors aged between 11 and 16 years, the prosecution had told the court.