Tamil Nadu court sentences two men to double life in POCSO case

A special POCSO court in Tamil Nadu has sentenced two men to double life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, threatening her and allegedly taking her explicit photographs, resulting in her pregnancy.

Special Court Judge Ezhil on Wednesday convicted Raja Perumal, 38, and Ayyasamy, 56, both from a village in Uthamapalayam taluk, and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on each. Failure to pay the fine will attract an additional three months of imprisonment.

The case came to light in 2023 after the girl's parents took her to a local hospital when she fell ill. Medical examinations revealed that she was pregnant, following which hospital authorities informed the police.

The girl subsequently told her parents that she had been sexually abused and threatened by the two accused. Based on the parents' complaint, the Uthamapalayam all-women police station registered a case and arrested the accused.

The court awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine under Section 6 of the POCSO Act. It also sentenced each accused to 10 years' imprisonment and a Rs 5,000 fine under Section 450 of the IPC, and one month's imprisonment with another Rs 5,000 fine under Section 506 of the IPC.

The sentences will run concurrently. The court also directed the Tamil Nadu government to provide Rs 7 lakh in compensation to the victim.

Following the verdict, police took the two convicts to Madurai Central Jail.

with inputs from PTI