Berhampur: A Fast Track POCSO Court in Berhampur on Tuesday convicted a private tutor for raping an eight-year-old girl and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Fast Track Court Judge Rohitlal Panda found the accused, Kartik Nayak (29) of Khallikote area in Ganjam district, guilty of sexually assaulting the minor student. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict, directing that the amount be paid to the victim. In default of payment, he will undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.
The court further directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the victim.
However, due to lack of evidence, the court acquitted the co-accused, Manjulata Nayak, mother of the convict.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on August 23, 2021, when the accused, who ran a coaching centre, allegedly called the Class III student to the upper floor of his house after tuition and sent other students away. He then sexually assaulted the child and threatened her when she screamed.
The victim later narrated the incident to her mother after returning home. Noticing bloodstains on the child’s clothes, the family rushed her to a local hospital. Subsequently, the victim’s mother lodged a complaint at Khallikote Police Station.
Police registered a case and arrested the accused. He was later remanded to judicial custody. A charge sheet was filed against both the accused and his mother.
During the trial, the court examined 10 witnesses before delivering the verdict. The accused, who had been lodged in Berhampur Circle Jail since his arrest, was produced before the court during the pronouncement of judgment. The co-accused was also present.
Special Public Prosecutor Shiva Prasad Mishra represented the State in the case.
