Mangaluru: The Additional District and Sessions Court (FTSC-2) in Mangaluru has sentenced a 20-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him in a case involving the repeated sexual assault of a minor girl under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court also found him guilty of criminal intimidation and offences under the Information Technology Act, imposing fines along with the prison sentence.

The convict has been identified as Sonu Maclean Noronha (20), son of Gilbert Noronha and a resident of Devi Nagar in Kunjathbail, Mangaluru. The judgment was delivered after the court examined the evidence presented by the prosecution and concluded that the charges had been proved.

Minor repeatedly assaulted, prosecution says

According to the prosecution, the accused developed a relationship with the minor girl in February 2024 and allegedly lured her into a relationship.

The prosecution stated that he repeatedly sexually assaulted the survivor at a rented house near Chalukya Bar in Shaktinagar in September 2024. It further alleged that the abuse continued at another rented house near the KEB office in Kembaru, Alape village, between November 2024 and June 2025.

The case came to light following a complaint, after which the Kankanady Town Police registered a case and launched an investigation.

Investigation uncovered digital evidence

During the investigation, police found that the accused had allegedly made a video call to the minor while she was bathing and captured screenshots showing her in a nude state. Investigators said the images were stored on his mobile phone.

According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly threatened to circulate the photographs if the victim refused to continue the physical relationship. He was also accused of threatening to kill the survivor, her mother and her sister.

Based on the evidence collected, investigators invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the POCSO Act and the Information Technology Act.

Police filed chargesheet

The investigation was conducted by then Police Inspector T. D. Nagaraj of Kankanady Town Police Station.

Police collected documentary, electronic and witness evidence before filing the chargesheet before the Additional District and Sessions Court (FTSC-2).

Special Public Prosecutor Sahana Devi represented the prosecution during the trial and argued the case before the court.

Court convicts accused under multiple laws

After evaluating the evidence and hearing the prosecution, the court convicted Sonu Maclean Noronha under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act.

The court sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 under Section 6 of the POCSO Act read with Section 64(2)(m) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Additionally, the court awarded one year of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each under Section 77 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 15 of the POCSO Act and Section 66(E) of the Information Technology Act.

The sentences will be served in accordance with the directions issued by the court.

The judgment concludes the trial before the sessions court and underscores the legal consequences for offences involving the sexual abuse of minors, criminal intimidation and misuse of digital technology.