Chandigarh: 20 years in prison for teenager who repeatedly raped minors

A 19-year-old youth who raped a 16-year-old girl in 2022 was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a special fast-track court.

Observing that the heinous act of the convict was not an offence against the victim or her family but against the society at large, the Fast Track Judge of the Special Court, Dr Yashika, sentenced Raju, of Mauli Complex in Mauli Jagran village, to 20 years imprisonment under Section 6 (aggravated sexual assault with penetration) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and one year imprisonment under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The convicted person was also sentenced to a fine ₹20,000 and ₹$5,000 and $5,000 respectively. Both sentences will be served concurrently.

According to the plaintiff, she was a student and developed friendly relations with the defendant. In June 2022, he called her to his home and raped her while threatening her not to tell anyone about the incident.

He then called her to his home several times under threat and raped her repeatedly.

Finally, she confided in her mother, who approached the police. Subsequently, a case under Sections 376 (2)(n) and 506 of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act was registered at Mauli Jagran police station on July 25, 2022.

At the beginning of the trial, the prosecution heard eleven witnesses to support its evidence.

In his statement, the defendant protested his innocence. He claimed that he knew the victim but had never met her in a room.

He claimed he had been falsely accused with the intent of blackmail ₹5 lakh from his family. However, the court held that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The saplings of innocent childhood years undoubtedly need to be nurtured with love and affection, fertilised with utmost care and instilled a sense of security and safety in the minor child so that he can grow up to be a responsible citizen of the society. In the present case, the convict by his heinous and deplorable act has instilled fear and insecurity in the minor child. The deplorable act of the convict is not an offence against the victim or his family but against the entire society. Such a heinous act by the convict does not augur well for our ethics,” the court ruled while sentencing Raju.

When the sentence was announced, Raju pleaded for leniency on the grounds that he was the sole caregiver of his elderly parents. However, the court showed no leniency and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

The court also recommended the case to the District Legal Services Authority for award of ₹400,000 compensation under the Victims Compensation Program.