Sundargarh: The Special POCSO Court in Sundargarh has sentenced Bikash Pahadia to seven years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) in connection with the rape of a minor girl in Lefripada police station area in April 2013. The court has also imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on the convict, directing that failure to pay will lead to an additional six months of imprisonment.
Alongside the sentence, the court ordered the Legal Services Authority to provide a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the survivor.
According to the case records, Pahadia, a resident of Nuapada under Sundargarh Town police limits, was a relative who frequently visited the victim’s house. Taking advantage of her being alone at home one day, he forcibly raped her. When the girl threatened to inform her family, he assured her that he would marry her and subsequently continued to exploit her.
The crime came to light after the victim became pregnant and disclosed the incident to her family. Following this revelation, Pahadia went into hiding, and a formal complaint was lodged with the police, leading to his arrest and trial under the POCSO Act.
The judgment is being seen as a significant step in delivering justice to the survivor after a prolonged legal battle spanning more than a decade.
