Man gets 20 years jail term for rape of minor in Puttur

A Dakshina Kannada session’s court has sentenced a 30-year-old resident of Kadaba taluk to 20 years in jail on finding him guilty of raping a minor girl five years ago.

On October 14, 7th Additional District and Sessions Judge, Puttur, Sumangala Chakalabbi, sentenced Shekar alias Sesappa to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a total penalty of ₹50,000.

The Kadaba police had filed the chargesheet accusing Shekar of sexually assaulting a minor girl and also threatening her life on May 8, 2021. The police charged Shekar for offences punishable under Sections 5(J)(ii)(L) and 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Sections 376(2)(f)(n), 376(3) and 506 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Judge convicted Shekar for offenses under Sections 376(2)(f)(n), Section 376(3) and 506 of IPC, and Section 5(l) read with Section 6 of POCSO Act. Shekar was acquitted for the offence under Section 5(j)(ii) read with Section 6 of POCSO Act.

The Judge sentenced Shekar to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a penalty of ₹25,000 for the offence under Section 5(l) read with Section 6 of POCSO Act. In default of payment of penalty amount, he shall undergo simple imprisonment of one year.

He was also sentenced to undergo one year rigorous imprisonment and pay a penalty of ₹25,000 for offence under Section 506 of IPC. In default of penalty payment, he has to undergo simple imprisonment of one year.

All sentences shall run concurrently.

The Judge further stated that no separate substantive sentence is imposed for the offence punishable under Sections 376(2)(f) (n) and 376(3) of IPC as the punishment imposed under the POCSO Act provided greater punishment.

The victim is entitled for compensation of ₹6 lakh as per NALSA’s compensation scheme 2018. As much as 50% of this amount should be kept as fixed deposit in a nationalised bank in the name of the victim for a period of three years, while the remaining amount should be released for victim’s utilisation. The Judge asked member of District Legal Services Authority to take necessary steps for disbursal of the compensation to the victim under the Victim Compensation Scheme.