Udupi: POCSO accused sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment

Udupi: The Udupi District Additional and Sessions Court, which also acts as the fast-track court for POCSO cases, held an accused guilty of raping a minor and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

Suresh Kothari, a resident of Amasebailu in Kundapur was convicted by the court in the case.

Kothari worked as a school bus driver and was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl who worked on the same bus as a helper. It was alleged that Kothari had taken the girl to a secluded area and forced physical contact. The girl got pregnant and had later given birth to a baby girl at her home. The matter came to light when the girl took the newborn to a hospital for check-up.

Based on the complaint filed by the aggrieved girl, Amasebailu police had arrested Kothari.

After the investigation, police had filed a charge sheet in the court naming Kothari as the accused. Of the 30 witnesses mentioned in the charge sheet, 16 were examined. Police had also submitted a DNA report establishing that Kothari was the father of the infant.

After examining evidence and testimonies, the court held Kothari held guilty as charged. The court sentenced him to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for rape and a Rs 10 thousand fine, 10 years imprisonment under the POCSO Act for sexual assault of a minor (to be served concurrently), and a Rs 10 thousand fine. In case of failure to pay the fine, the court ordered Kothari to serve an additional 1 year in jail.

The court also ordered the government to pay Rs 1 lakh compensation to the victim. Of the Rs 20,000 fine collected from the accused, Rs 15,000 shall be paid to the victim and the rest to the government, the court order said.