POCSO Court Sentences Man & Elderly Woman To RI For Rape Of Minor Girl In Odisha’s Keonjhar

Keonjhar: A special POSCO court on Wednesday sentenced a man and an old woman to rigorous imprisonment in a case of a minor girl’s rape in Odisha’s Keonjhar district.

Speaking to media persons after the court’s judgment, public prosecutor Ganesh Prasad Mohapatra said the minor girl was living with her step-grandmother Amita Karua in Joda of the district after she was abandoned by her parents in 2018.

One SK Shahzad used to come to the elderly woman’s house regularly. During his visit, Shahzad repeatedly raped the girl. Though Amita knew about it, she did not do anything to protect the girl. Amita also did not allow the girl’s mother to meet her, Mohapatra said.

However, the girl’s uncle came to Amita’s house later and took the girl to his house. She revealed her sexual exploitation by Shahzad to her uncle.

After he filed a complaint at Joda police station on November 27, 2018, Amita and Shahzad were arrested and forwarded to the court.

The ADJ and Special POCSO Court in Keonjhar heard the statements of 20 witnesses and verified the evidence produced by the police. Following the hearing, the court convicted both the accused.

Announcing its verdict, the court sentenced Shahzad to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him for the charges under Sections 376(3) of IPC. In default of payment of the fine, he has to undergo one more year of RI.

The court also ordered 30 years of RI for the charges under Section 6 of POCSO Act and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 fine on him. In default of the fine, he will have to serve two more years of RI. Both the sentences of Shahzad will run concretely.

The court sentenced Amita to 30 years of RI and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 under Section 6/70 of POCSO Act. In default of payment of fine, she has to undergo two more years of RI, the court ruled.

The court also directed the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) to pay a compensation of Rs 6 lakh to the victim.