A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has sentenced a couple to death for filming and distributing exploitative videos involving minors in Uttar Pradesh’s Chitrakoot district.
The verdict was delivered by the POCSO court in Banda after prolonged hearings in a case that dates back six years.
Conviction under multiple laws
The convicts, Ram Bhavan, a junior engineer in the Irrigation Department, and his wife Durgavati, were found guilty under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the POCSO Act and the Information Technology Act. Section 377 of the IPC was also invoked as the offences occurred before it was read down by the Supreme Court.
The court directed both the state and central governments to provide ₹10 lakh each as compensation to the families of the identified victims.
Extensive CBI investigation
The case was investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which arrested the couple in October 2020 following reports of abuse in Banda, Chitrakoot and nearby areas.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly targeted children aged between five and sixteen, recorded abusive acts using electronic devices and distributed the material through encrypted online platforms.
During searches at their residence, officials recovered ₹8 lakh in cash, multiple mobile phones, laptops and storage devices. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of large quantities of illegal content.
The agency identified 33 child victims during the probe. A man from Delhi was also arrested in connection with the case, and further investigations are ongoing.
The judgment underscores the seriousness of organised online child exploitation and reiterates the judiciary’s firm stance against crimes involving minors.