Udupi: A POCSO case accused who sexually assaulted a minor four years ago was given a ten-year prison sentence on Saturday February 5 by the POCSO fast-track special court of the Udupi District Additional and Sessions Court.
Umesh Bangera (48), a resident of Hejamadi near Padubidri, was found guilty of the crime.
Police informed that Bangera was teaching Karate in Padubidri. He sexually assaulted a 12-year-old student who attended the classes in February 2020. The girl was also threatened not to discuss this with anyone.
Bangera called the girl’s mother on September 27, 2020, and asked that she enrol the girl in classes. The girl chose not to attend the classes. Later, she told her mother about her ordeal. After that, a case was filed at the Padubidri Police Station against Bangera.
After conducting an investigation, Mahesh Prasad, the Inspector in charge of Kapu Circle, filed a chargesheet against the accused.
The court found Bangera guilty after examining the witnesses and other evidence in the case. Bangera was given a 10-year prison term and a fee of Rs. 10,000 under the POCSO Act, as well as a one-year sentence and a fine of Rs. 1,000 for making threats to kill and a 10-year sentence and a payment of Rs. 1,000 for physical sexual harassment.
The court mandated that the government keep Rs. 5,000 of the fines received and that the remaining Rs. 17,000 be paid to the victim. The government was also ordered by the court to provide the girl with Rs. 1 lakh compensation.
Special Government Prosecutor of Udupi POCSO Court Y.T. Raghavendra argued on behalf of the prosecution.
