A special court in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, has sentenced a man from Uttar Pradesh to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor girl. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on the convict, identified as Mahinder, also known as Mohinder.
Details of the Case
Additional District and Sessions Judge Kanika Chawla of the Fast Track Special Court (POCSO) in Solan pronounced the sentence on Thursday. According to the prosecution, the crime occurred in April 2023. The minor victim was living with her family in Baddi when the accused kidnapped her from her parents' lawful guardianship on April 7, 2023.
Crime and Investigation
The accused took the girl to a rented room in Jharian, Punjab, where he repeatedly assaulted and mistreated her. The case was investigated by the Women Police Station in Baddi. During the trial, the prosecution examined 22 witnesses to establish the guilt of the accused.
The court found Mahinder guilty under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. In addition to the 20-year rigorous imprisonment, the court ordered the convict to pay a fine of Rs 30,000. The sentence aims to serve as a deterrent against such heinous crimes.
