Man gets 20-year RI for violating minor girl

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 31

The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Amar Jeet Singh has convicted Amerika Kumar Chauhan, a resident of Chandan Da Vehra, Kanganwal village, here, under the POCSO Act on the charges of sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl.

He was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment (RI) for 20 years. The accused was also ordered to pay Rs 1,00,000 as fine for indulgence in such a heinous crime. Of the recovered fine amount, Rs 1,00,000 would be paid as compensation to the victim.

Pronouncing the verdict, the court held that the prosecution has successfully proved the charges against the accused. The court declined the plea of leniency raised by him.

Additional public prosecutor BD Gupta apprised that a case against the accused was registered on April 15, 2022, at the Sahnewal police station following the statement of the father of the girl.

The complainant had stated to the police that on April 14, 2022, his children were sleeping in their room. Whereas, the complainant and his wife were sleeping upstairs. Around 2 am, they heard the shrieks of their daughter and when they reached downstairs, they saw the accused running outside from their children room.

“When we went inside the room, our daughter was crying badly and she stated that the accused had sexually exploited her. The matter was reported to the police and the accused was arrested by the police later,” he said.

However, during the trial, the accused pleaded innocence but convinced with prosecution evidence, the court found him guilty.

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