Youth sentenced to 20-year jail for raping minor cousin

Chandigarh, July 12

The Special Judge, Fast Track Court, here has sentenced a youth to 20-year rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl.

The police had registered the case against the accused in August 2019 on a complaint filed by the victim under sections 376 (3) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA).

The complainant had alleged that she resided with her parents and studied at a government model school here. Her cousin also lived with them. In April, her cousin raped her. The victim’s parents were sleeping in the adjoining room when the incident happened. Thereafter, he kept on sexually exploiting the victim, said the victim.

The counsel for the accused said his client was falsely implicated in the case. He said the complainant had submitted an application to the SSP seeking the cancellation of the FIR, and had admitted that the accused never committed any indecent act with her.

The Public Prosecutor said the investigating officer had proved the case on the basis of the CFSL report. When the matter was reported, she was found to be 13 weeks pregnant. According to the report, the accused is the biological father of the victim’s foetus.

After hearing the arguments, the court sentenced the convict to undergo 20-year rigorous imprisonment. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 on him.