Mangaluru: A sessions court in Dakshina Kannada has sentenced a 30-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl and threatening to kill her if she disclosed the crime. The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict.
The accused, identified as Shekhar alias Sesappa, is a resident of Ramakunja in Kadaba taluk. The case relates to an incident reported on May 8, 2021, within the limits of Kadaba police station.
Court Awards 20 Years of Rigorous Imprisonment
The 7th Additional District and Sessions Court in Puttur, presided over by Judge Sumangala Chakalabbi, convicted the accused after hearing the case and examining the evidence presented during the trial.
For the offence under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the court sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000.
The court also sentenced him to one year of rigorous imprisonment for criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code and imposed an additional fine of Rs 25,000. The court directed that the prison sentences run concurrently, resulting in an effective term of 20 years.
The court also specified additional imprisonment in the event of non-payment of the respective fines.
Kadaba Police Investigated the Case
Kadaba police registered a case following the incident and conducted an investigation. Umesh U., who was serving as Puttur Rural Circle Inspector at the time, investigated the case, collected evidence and filed a charge sheet against the accused.
The prosecution presented its case before the court, which considered the evidence before delivering its verdict. Special Public Prosecutor Pushparaj Adyanthaya represented the state during the proceedings.
Case Highlights Child Protection Concerns
The case highlights the legal consequences of sexual offences against children and threats intended to prevent victims from reporting abuse. The POCSO Act provides a legal framework for addressing sexual offences against minors and prescribes stringent punishments for specified offences.
The conviction follows the completion of the trial into the 2021 incident. The sentence includes punishment for both the sexual offence and criminal intimidation.
The court’s order brings the trial proceedings to a conclusion at the sentencing stage, with the convict required to serve the prison term imposed by the court.