Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 15: The seventh additional district and sessions court here has sentenced a 30-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the rape of a minor girl in 2021.

The convict has been identified as Shekhar alias Sesappa, a resident of Ramakunja in Kadaba.

The incident took place on May 8, 2021, under the Kadaba police station limits. The accused raped the minor and issued death threats to her. A case was registered at the Kadaba police station under sections 376(2)(f)(n), 376(3), and 506 of the IPC, alongside section 5(j)(ii)(l) of the POCSO Act.

The then Puttur rural circle inspector Umesh U conducted the investigation, gathered necessary evidence, and filed the charge sheet before the court.

After hearing the trial, judge Sumangala Chakalabbi found the accused guilty of the charges. The court sentenced Shekhar to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 under section 5(l) read with 6 of the POCSO Act. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional one year of simple imprisonment.

Furthermore, under section 506 of the IPC (criminal intimidation), he was sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000, failing which he will have to undergo another year of simple imprisonment. In total, the convict will serve 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 50,000.

Public prosecutor Pushparaj Adyanthaya represented the state in the case.