Kota (RJ), Aug 20 A Special POCSO Court in Kota sentenced a 17-year-old juvenile to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 6,000 fine for abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl here nearly two years ago.
In its order on Wednesday, the court also issued significant reformative directions targeting the convict's education, mental health, and social rehabilitation.
The minor has been awarded the punishment for abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl, a Class 9 student, in September 2024, public prosecutor at POCSO 2 court, Virendra Singh Bhanawat told PTI on Thursday.
He said the accused and the girl had known each other for three to four years and had communicated on the phone. On the midnight of September 16, 2024, the minor girl left home without informing her family. The accused juvenile abducted her and took her to his grandmother's residence, where he held her for five days and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
Following a complaint filed by the girl's mother at Kunhadi police station, the police rescued the girl on September 25, 2024. Based on her statements, a case was registered under Sections 137(2), 64(2)(M) and 65(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the POCSO Act.
Following the initial investigation, the accused juvenile was detained, but later granted bail, the public prosecutor said.
On a petition filed by the girl's counsellor, the court on May 25, 2025 ordered the conduct of trial of the accused juvenile as an adult.
During the trial, the prosecution produced 31 pieces of documentary evidence and recorded the testimonies of 17 witnesses.
The POCSO Court-2 on Wednesday held the juvenile guilty of abducting the minor girl and raping her, the public prosecutor said.
Considering the convict's age, physical condition and mental health, the court issued reformative directions, including special arrangements for social service and skill development of the juvenile until he turns 21.
According to the court order, the convict must be sent to a technical or educational institution for two hours daily to pursue his studies and skills training. He must participate in tree plantation activities for two hours daily in front of or at the District Forest Office. Besides, he must take part in community service alongside a social worker at a shelter home or a similar social institution for an hour in the evening daily.
The convict had previously been granted bail during the trial proceedings, but following the verdict pronouncement, appropriate custodial orders were executed, the public prosecutor said.
