The Additional District Judge and POCSO Judge Basudev Acharya sentenced the accused Arata Chhati to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 in a minor rape case in Nabarangpur.
The court ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional one-year imprisonment.
The incident occurred five months ago when the accused raped a minor girl in an orchard during the evening. The matter came to light after the victim’s menstrual cycle stopped, and her family learned of the assault. Despite the victim informing the accused, he ignored the situation and showed no responsibility. The family later lodged a complaint at Dabugaon police station, leading to the registration of case number 123/15.
Police investigated the matter and submitted a charge sheet to the court. The trial examined 24 witnesses and evidence before reaching the verdict. Based on the testimonies, the judge delivered a strong sentence to ensure justice for the victim and to uphold the seriousness of crimes against minors.
Public Prosecutor Sachi Nandan Swain conducted the case independently, presenting evidence and arguments that supported the conviction. The judgment reinforced the importance of strict enforcement under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
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