Cuttack: Additional Sessions and Special POCSO Court in Cuttack sentenced a 25-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl in 2022.
The convicted, Abdul Razak alias Abdul Nadi Khan, a resident of the Laxmipur police station area in Koraput district, was found guilty under stringent sections of the law.
Judge Himanshu Shekhar Singh held him guilty under Sections 363 and 366 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and most critically, under Section 376-AB of the IPC and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which pertains to the rape of a child under twelve years of age.
The court sentenced Abdul Razak to 20 years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹65,000. The verdict stipulated that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional two-year jail term. The court further directed that if the fine is recovered, the amount shall be provided to the victim. In a move towards restorative justice, the court also ordered a compensation of ₹6 lakh to be paid to the survivor.
The case dates back to March 5, 2022, when the family of the victim filed a complaint at the Nischintakoili police station.
According to the prosecution, the accused abducted the minor girl and confined her at a relative’s house, where he sexually assaulted her.
Following the complaint, the police registered a case and initiated an investigation, which led to the rescue of the victim.
A medical examination was conducted as part of the evidence gathering. After a thorough probe, the police submitted a chargesheet against Abdul Razak. The court framed charges against him on December 23, 2023.
During the trial, the prosecution built a strong case, presenting the testimonies of 15 witnesses to establish the guilt of the accused. The case was prosecuted on behalf of the state by Special Public Prosecutors Ramesh Chandra Mohanty and Biswajit Ray.
