Ranchi Court Delivers Stern Punishment in Minor Rape Case
A special court in Ranchi dedicated to cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has pronounced a stringent sentence in a distressing case of child sexual abuse. On Friday, the court handed down a verdict of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to the convict, Nawal Kishore Singh Munda, for the repeated rape of a minor girl.
In addition to the lengthy prison term, the court imposed a substantial financial penalty. Munda has been ordered to pay a total fine of Rs 52,000. The presiding judge, B K Srivastava, delivered this landmark judgment, sending a strong message against crimes targeting children.
Legal Charges and Concurrent Sentences
The conviction was secured under multiple sections of the law. The court sentenced Nawal Kishore Singh Munda to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment each under section 4(2) and section 6 of the POCSO Act. For these two primary charges, fines of Rs 25,000 each were levied.
The court order specified that failure to pay these fines would result in an additional six months of imprisonment. Furthermore, the convict faced charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for intimidation and causing hurt.
- He received a one-year sentence under IPC section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt).
- A two-year sentence was given under IPC section 506 (criminal intimidation).
- A combined fine of Rs 2,000 was imposed for these IPC charges.
Importantly, the court ruled that all sentences would run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve the different prison terms simultaneously, with the 20-year term being the most significant.
Case Background and Arrest
The case stemmed from a serious complaint filed against Nawal Kishore Singh Munda, accusing him of the heinous acts of rape and intimidation against the minor victim. Following a thorough investigation based on the complaint, the police arrested Munda in November 2023.
The swift legal proceedings and the decisive verdict underscore the judiciary's commitment to expediting justice in cases involving sexual violence against children. The POCSO Act is designed specifically for such crimes, and this judgment from Ranchi reflects its stringent application.
This ruling is seen as a crucial step in affirming the legal system's zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual abuse and ensuring that perpetrators face severe consequences for their actions.
