A special Pocso court in Kalol of Gandhinagar district has sentenced a 32-year-old man to 20 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him for the rape and abduction of a minor girl.
Additional public prosecutor Jignesh Joshi said that Mahesh Raval was put on trial under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for eloping with a 17-year-old girl in October 2025. The court found him guilty of the crime and pronounced the punishment.
Court's observation on the crime
In its order, the court stated, “The accused was 31 years old, and the victim was only 17 at the time of the offence. A conducive environment for a child’s comprehensive development is a fundamental right. When rape is committed against a minor, the child suffers unimaginable mental anguish, and it can take years to recover from the mental trauma. Due to the accused’s actions, the minor girl’s life has been devastated.”
Legal proceedings and verdict
The case was registered under the Pocso Act and relevant sections of BNS. The prosecution presented evidence and witnesses to establish the guilt of the accused. After a thorough trial, the court delivered the verdict, sentencing Raval to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The fine amount is to be paid to the victim as compensation.
This judgment sends a strong message against crimes targeting minors and underscores the judiciary's commitment to protecting children's rights. The court emphasized that such offenses have a lasting impact on the victim's mental health and overall well-being.
