A Fast Track Special Court (POCSO) in Bhubaneswar has sentenced 24-year-old Dillip Bhoi to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment in a high-profile minor assault and rape case dating back to July 2025.
Saroj Kumar Sahoo, Presiding Officer of the Ad hoc Additional Sessions Judge and Fast Track Special Court (POCSO), delivered the verdict after meticulously examining 18 witnesses and 24 relevant documents.
Case Background
The incident occurred on July 28, 2025, within the jurisdiction of the Airfield Police Station. The victim, an 8-year-old girl studying at a local government primary school, was left at the school by her father while he took her ailing brother to a doctor.
Around 11 AM, the victim’s mother received a call from a school teacher summoning her to the institution, where she discovered the horrific crime. According to the victim’s statement, the accused, Dillip Bhoi, lured her to fetch biscuits from a nearby shop. Upon her return, when she asked about her missing school bag, Bhoi dragged her to an under-construction building behind the school, tied her hands and feet, and assaulted her. He threatened to kill her parents if she disclosed the incident. The brave victim managed to return to the school and immediately informed the teacher.
The victim’s father filed a formal written complaint at the Airfield Police Station on July 29, 2025.
Investigation and Judgment
The Airfield Police Station registered Case No. 258/2025, and the investigation was spearheaded by then-Sub-Inspector Gitanjali Barik, who swiftly arrested the accused and submitted a chargesheet on September 20, 2025.
The court convicted Dillip Bhoi under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, sentencing him to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 20,000 (with an additional 6 months of rigorous imprisonment in default). He was also sentenced under BNS provisions to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment with a Rs 2,000 fine (and an additional 2 months’ default sentence). Both sentences will run concurrently.
Recognising the severe physical and psychological trauma inflicted on the minor victim, the court invoked Section 357(A) of the CrPC and the Odisha Victim Compensation Scheme, ordering the Khordha District Legal Services Authority to provide Rs 4,000,000 in financial compensation.
Special Public Prosecutor Sri Rajiv Sasmal and Additional Public Prosecutor Sri Balaram Deo successfully represented the state. This marks the 114th successful conviction secured by the Bhubaneswar urban police district this year.
