Udupi: Accused handed 10-year prison term in POCSO case

Udupi: An accused was convicted of sexual harassment of a minor and was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by a local court.

Vignesh Naik (30), a resident of Kota, was found guilty of harassing a 17-year-old girl by the Special POCSO Court and District Additional And Sessions Court.

The case relates to incidents that occurred in 2018 in Kota Police station limits. It was alleged that the accused got to know the victim girl when he had been employed for work at her house. Thereafter, he pestered her over the phone, making inappropriate advances.

In December 2018, the accused waylaid the girl when she was walking home from school. He then dragged her to a wooded area and raped her. He also threatened the girl not to reveal the matter to anyone.

The girl later reported the matter to the 1098 child helpline. The Child Protection Officers rescued the girl and filed a case against the accused at the Udupi Women’s police station. After an investigation police had filed a chargesheet against the accused.

After hearing the arguments, Judge Shrinivas Suvarna held that the charges against the accused were proven and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 21,500. Of the fine collected, The court ordered Rs 16,500 be given tot he victim.

The court also ordered the government to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakhs to the victim.

Special public prosecutor Y T Raghavendra argued on behalf of the State.