Varanasi: Under a special campaign being carried out as part of Operation Conviction to ensure swift and maximum punitive action against accused persons in crimes related to women and children, a Bhadohi court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a 22-year-old man to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old Dalit girl in 2024.
Police had registered an FIR on April 17, 2024, on the complaint of the girl’s mother. The girl left home on April 12 to buy some household items but did not return, according to the complaint. In the FIR, the woman accused a Bhadohi resident, Akhilesh Yadav , of abducting her daughter, taking her to Mumbai and raping her. After six to seven days, he left her in Handia, following which she returned home. The accused, a resident of Jagannandanpatti (Kishundevpur) village under Gopiganj police station limits, had been booked under relevant sections of IPC Pocso Act, and SC/ST Act. Prosecution counsel ADGC Dheeraj Shukla presented evidence, including the survivor’s date of birth record, medical reports and location details showing the movement of the accused and the girl to Mumbai. The prosecution sought strict punishment.
The court of special judge (Pocso), Gyanpur, Bhadohi, presided over by Durgesh, convicted the man under Section 3/4(2) of the Pocso Act and Section 376(3) of the IPC. He was fined also slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000. In case of non-payment of the fine, he will undergo an additional six months’ imprisonment.
Following scientific investigation, accurate evidence collection and timely submission of the chargesheet before the court, effective prosecution was ensured.