Special Judge POCSO Ranjan Kumar Sutar on Monday convicted a person in a rape case in Baleswar district and awarded him 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI).
The court also directed the convict to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 fine and in default to undergo another two years’ jail term. The accused identified as Pradip Bangari of village Bhaskarganj under the Sahadevkhunta police station had raped a minor girl of the locality in August 2023.
Later, the mother of the victim lodged an FIR with police. The accused was arrested following investigation and tried under Sections 376(AB) of IPC and 6 of the POCSO Act.
The court after examining 13 witnesses and 29 exhibits found him guilty and pronounced the judgement, said Special Public Prosecutor Pranab Panda.
