India’s rape law mostly does not apply as the police is so corrupt that they’d rather laugh you off than actually do something about your report. Most of the victims don’t even bother to report the rapes as they don’t feel safe to even file a report. The fact that the families also often blame the victims (for sure you must have worn provocative clothes or smth) does not help.

In this case, the guy is an ex ruling coalition member. Now he’s out of power as they’ve changed their allies, so the ruling party can sentence their previous allies for crimes, showing how off how the opposition is evil and corrupt while doing the same things themselves. He’s of no use to them anymore, so at this point a life sentence works too I guess.