A Ramanagara court sentenced a man to 12 years imprisonment in a decade-old POCSO sexual assault case.
Ramanagara
In a significant judgment reinforcing accountability for crimes against children, the District Additional and Sessions Court in Ramanagara has sentenced a man to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment in a sexual assault case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The offence was committed against a minor girl nearly a decade ago, with the case finally reaching its legal conclusion after prolonged proceedings.
The convicted individual has been identified as Muniyarappa alias Varadaraju. According to the prosecution, a case was registered against him by the Kaggalipur police in 2015 following a complaint related to sexual assault on a minor. After years of investigation, trial, and examination of evidence, the court found the accused guilty of the charges leveled against him.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹15,000 on the convict. The court further directed that ₹10,000 from the fine amount be paid to the survivor as compensation, acknowledging the trauma and suffering endured by the victim. Legal experts noted that while monetary compensation cannot undo the harm caused, such directions reflect the judiciary’s intent to provide some measure of relief to survivors of sexual crimes.
The verdict was delivered by K.N. Saraswati, who underscored the seriousness of offences committed against children and the need for strict punishment to deter similar crimes. The court observed that crimes under the POCSO Act strike at the very foundation of society and must be dealt with firmly to protect the rights and dignity of minors.
The prosecution was conducted by Pushpalatha, who argued that the evidence on record clearly established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution relied on witness testimonies, medical evidence, and other supporting documents to substantiate the charges, leading to the conviction.
