A 24-year-old youth found guilty of a serious offense against a minor has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by Additional District and Sessions FTSC-II (POCSO) Judge Maanu K S.
The convicted individual, Mohammed Sadik from Bantwal, befriended a 14-year-old girl through mobile conversations. He remained in frequent contact and assured her of marriage. In May 2023, taking advantage of the victim’s mother being unwell and asleep, he visited the house. He later continued to meet her when no family members were present.
Over time, the mother noticed changes in her daughter’s health and took her to a hospital. Medical tests revealed that she was over six months pregnant. Following this, a case under the POCSO Act and IPC Section 376 was registered at Bantwal Town Police Station. Inspector Anantha Padmanabha K V led the investigation and submitted the charge sheet.
The girl later gave birth to a baby boy. Throughout the trial, the accused denied all allegations. However, DNA analysis confirmed him as the biological father.
After examining 20 witnesses and reviewing 30 documents, the court found Sadik guilty. He was sentenced under IPC Sections 376(3), 376(2), and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, along with a ₹50,000 fine. The judge ordered that the amount be given to the survivor and directed ₹6.5 lakh compensation through the district legal services authority.
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