Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD/SS)

Udupi, Aug 9: The district Additional and Sessions Court (POCSO) has sentenced an accused to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment on charges of sexual assault on a minor girl in Kota police limits four years ago.

Ashok A (32), a resident of Balakudru in Brahmavar taluk is the convicted person.

Ashok had befriended a 15-year-old minor girl and on the pretext of dropping her off to school in his car forced himself on her and took her into a house of another accused person. He sexually abused the minor girl and dropped her back home. He also threatened and warned her against disclosing the act to anyone.

The girl was looking dejected which was noticed by members of her family. When they enquired from her about her well-being this act came to light. Based on the complaint filed by the family members with the police a case was registered. An investigation was conducted by the DySP then Jaishankar who interrogated the accused and submitted a charge sheet to the court.

Judge Srinivasa Suvarna who heard the case said the accused was already married and had sexually assaulted the minor girl based on the evidence and the circumstantial evidence and ruled him a convict. The judge sentenced the accused to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 23,000 directing Rs 10,000 of the amount be paid to the government and Rs 13,000 to the aggrieved girl as compensation. The court also directed the government to pay Rs 1 lac to the girl as compensation.

However, the court released the other accused person due to lack of evidence in the matter.

Advocates Y T Raghavendra and Harishchandra argued the case as a special public prosecutor and public prosecutor respectively in the case.