Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Feb 5: Umesh Bangera (48), a Karate trainer and resident of Hejmady near Padubidri was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for sexually harassing a 12-year-old girl, who used to visit his training centre to learn Karate. The verdict was pronounced by Justice Srinivas Suvarna of the city's fast-track POCSO court.

Umesh was conducting Karate training classes in Padubidri. On February 12, 2020, he had sexually harassed the 12-year-old girl after the training session. He also threatened the girl with dire consequences.

The convict called the mother of the victim girl on February 27 and asked her to send her daughter for Karate classes. Accordingly, the mother asked her daughter to go to class. But she was crying. On inquiry, mother was shocked to learn about the sexual harassment. So mother of the victim duly filed a case against the trainer at Padubidri police station.

Mahesh Prasad, the then CI of Kaup had conducted investigation and submitted a chargesheet to the court. The accused was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and Rs 10,000 in fine under the POCSO Act, 10 years of imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 10,000 under the sexual harassment case and another Rs 2000 fine under threat to life.

The court also ordered the convict to pay Rs 17,000 to the victim girl and Rs 5,000 to the government. In addition, the court ordered him to pay Rs 1 lac to the victim girl as compensation.

Special public prosecutor Y T Raghavendra had argued in favour of the government.