Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 25: The second additional district court which has also been designated as special court for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, through a judgement delivered recently, handed down ten years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000 on a man who had been accused of raping his minor niece.

The man who was found guilty and sentenced happens to be Chandrakanth (44), living near Gauri Math in the city.

The incident had happened on may 2, 2018. The court, which conducted hearing swiftly, pronounced its verdict within nine months. The accused has been found guilty under section 376 of Indian Penal Code and section 6 of POCSO Act.

The victim in question is from Sorab taluk in Shivamogga district. She happens to be the daughter of the elder sister of the wife of Chandrakanth. She had come here to spend days in the company of her aunt during school holidays. On the midnight of May 2 last year, Chandrakanth reportedly raped the girl against her wishes. This incident came to the notice of Chandakanth's wife and grandmother. His wife filed complaint the very next day in the women's police station at Pandeshwar. The then sub-inspector of the station, Kalavathi, who took up investigation, got the girl medically examined, which confirmed that she had been raped.

Eight persons including the affected girl, her mother, grandmother, and wife of the accused, had recorded evidence in the court. The wife, who initially filed complaint against her husband, changed her stance later and acted as if she was not aware of the incident. The girl, under pressure from family members, also changed her version. But, considering that the medical report had found that the girl had been raped, the court sentenced the accused.

The guilty has been ordered to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 of which Rs 9,000 has been ordered to be disbursed to the victim. Judge of the court, B R Pallavi, announced the verdict. Special public prosecutor, C Vankataramana Swamy, had argued the case on behalf of the complainant.