Mangaluru
A 27-year-old man, K Sudhir from Belthangady, was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 for the repeated sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. The court found that Sudhir had exploited a position of trust to abuse the minor.
The heinous acts began in late 2021 when Sudhir, under the pretext of taking the girl to a nearby shop, lured her to his grandmother’s unoccupied house and sexually assaulted her. He continued to abuse her multiple times, threatening her with dire consequences if she revealed the crimes.
The situation took a more sinister turn when the victim became pregnant in August 2022. Instead of seeking help, Sudhir took matters into his own hands, planning and executing an abortion. To further manipulate the situation, he even dressed the victim as a bride and took photographs, suggesting a fraudulent marital relationship. The incident came to light when an anonymous tip was received by Childline. With the assistance of counseling, the victim bravely disclosed the abuse.
The court, after careful consideration of the evidence, convicted Sudhir under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The fine imposed will be given to the victim, along with an additional compensation of Rs 2 lakh.
