8 hrs ago
Gujarat court sentences man 20 years in POCSO case
A court in Vadodara decided that a man had committed an offence under the POCSO law.
The girl involved was younger than 18 when the incident happened.
The court said their relationship appeared to be a love affair and that she had agreed to it.
However, the law treats sexual activity involving someone under 18 as an offence.
The court said it had no choice but to punish the man.
He received 20 years in prison and a Rs 50,000 fine.
The court did not award separate compensation because the girl had willingly eloped with him.
It ordered Rs 45,000 from the fine to be paid to her.
A Vadodara special POCSO court convicted a man for raping a girl who was below 18.
The court described the relationship as a love affair and consensual relationship but said the girl’s age required conviction under the law.
The man was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000.
The court declined separate compensation because the girl had willingly eloped, but ordered Rs 45,000 from the fine to be paid to her.
The case began with a Vadodara police complaint in March 2025, and the prosecution examined 14 witnesses.
- Who
- A man convicted under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act; the victim was a girl below 18.
- What
- The man was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000.
- Where
- By a Special Fast Track POCSO Court in Vadodara, Gujarat.
- When
- The complaint was registered in March 2025; the judgment was delivered on Monday.
- Why
- The court found that sexual intercourse had occurred more than once with a girl who was below 18, making the conduct punishable under the POCSO Act.
Maximum Punishment
Minimum Punishment
Sentence length
Maximum Punishment
District Government Pleader Anil Desai sought the maximum punishment, arguing that a deterrent sentence was needed because such offences were increasing.
Minimum Punishment
Defence advocate SG Durge sought the minimum punishment, citing the man’s young age, clean criminal record and role as the breadwinner of a poor family.
Nature of the relationship
Maximum Punishment
The court held that the relationship’s consensual character did not remove criminal liability because the girl was below 18.
Minimum Punishment
The defence position emphasized circumstances favorable to the accused, including his age and personal situation; the court itself described the relationship as a love affair and consensual relationship.
Key facts
- Court
- Special Fast Track Court under the POCSO Act, Vadodara
- Sentence
- 20 years of rigorous imprisonment
- Fine
- Rs 50,000
- Payment to victim
- Rs 45,000 from the fine
- Complaint
- Registered at a Vadodara city police station in March 2025
- Prosecution witnesses
- 14 witnesses, including the girl, doctors, officials and police personnel
- Pre-trial custody
- The accused spent six months in custody before being released on bail
Quotes
The Special POCSO Court
Vadodara’s Special Fast Track Court under the POCSO Act
“But, the victim willingly eloped with the accused, it is not fit case to award any compensation to the victim as it is a ‘consensual relationship’, but end of justice would be met if the fine imposed on the accused is awarded to the victim.”
indianexpress.com
“This case is clearly a ‘love affair’ and ‘consensual relationship’ but the victim was minor… below 18 years at the time of incident, thus, as accused has committed offence, he is required to be punished accordingly.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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