Mangaluru: In a significant legal verdict, the First Additional District and Sessions Court (POCSO) Judge Manjula Itti has handed down a 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to an accused who impregnated a minor girl belonging to a scheduled tribe. The accused, identified as Srikant Hanumantha, a native of Bagalkot Hardolli, has been convicted in this case.
The victim, a minor girl, was residing in a shelter near a box manufacturing company in Karambaru village, located within the jurisdiction of the Bajpe police station. The accused also lived in an adjacent shed. This horrifying case involved the accused sexually harassing the minor girl multiple times under the pretext of love, beginning on April 12, 2019, while the girl’s parents were not at home. Furthermore, the accused took compromising photos of the minor girl and threatened her with murder if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.
The situation took a dire turn when the girl fell ill at school and was subsequently taken to a hospital. It was during this time that her pregnancy was confirmed. She later gave birth to a child. The initial investigation was conducted by ACP Srinivas Gowda, with ACP Belliappa submitting the chargesheet to the court.
Judge Manjula Itty, who presided over the inquiry, pronounced a sentence of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the accused. Additionally, the judge ordered the government to pay Rs 10.50 lakh as compensation to the victim.
Special Public Prosecutor Sahana Devi initially represented the prosecution during the inquiry, while Special Government Prosecutor Jyoti Pramod Nayak continued the prosecution’s argument in court. This legal decision represents a crucial step towards ensuring justice for the victim and setting a precedent against such heinous crimes.
