Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The additional sessions court FTSC-2 (POCSO) sentenced accused man in the case of sexually harassing and impregnating a minor girl, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and Rs 30000 in fine.

Naveen alias Naveen Poojary alias Naveen Suvarna (42), a resident of Pacchanady Vaidyanathanagara is the accused who is convicted by the court. Other three accused in the case were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The victim was studying in ninth grade and had love affair with Sandeep Kulal, a resident of Vamanjoor Tiruvail. Naveen who knew about the affair of the girl and Sandeep had blackmailed the girl saying that he will make the matter public. One day he threatened the girl and took her to the house of Sudha, whom the accused knew and sexually assaulted the girl. It was accused that Sudha, whom Naveen knew, had cooperated in the act.

In addition, it was also accused that engineering student Punit Kumar, a native of Davanagere and residing at Vamanjoor, had blackmailed the girl and sexually harassed her.

When the girl got pregnant, she was admitted to hospital and hospital authorities informed the matter to the police. The rural police of Mangaluru had registered a case on four people including lover of the victim girl Sandeep Kulal.

The girl delivered a baby boy. DNA test proved that the child was fathered by Naveen Suvarna. So it was confirmed that accused Naveen had physical relation with the victim girl.

Inspector Siddanagowda H Bajantri had filed chargesheet in the court. As many as 51 records were submitted and 21 witnesses deposed before the court.

Justice K M Radhakrishna sentenced accused Naveen to 10 years of RI and slapped a fine of Rs 30000 and acquitted other three accused due to lack of evidence.

Public prosecutor C Venkatramana Swamy had argued for the prosecution.