The Additional District and Sessions Court (PoCSO Act Special) in Kalaburagi sentenced 19-year-old Sonu, son of Tara Singh Jadhav from File Tanda near Nandur (K) village, to life imprisonment and a ₹30,000 fine for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.
According to public prosecutor Shanthaveer B. Tuppad, on August 9, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., Sonu lured the girl upstairs under the pretense of watering plants, silenced her by stuffing cloth in her mouth, and raped her. Previously, on February 6, 2023, he had taken her to Kolhapur, Maharashtra, promising marriage, and raped her multiple times over 10 days in a rented room, despite knowing she was a minor.
Tuppad noted that the accused’s parents tried to suppress the case by proposing marriage between the victim and Sonu, which the victim’s parents rejected, citing incest prohibitions in their customs. The accused’s family also allegedly attempted to assault the victim’s parents. Following a complaint, the University Police Station registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and PoCSO Act. Circle Inspectors Renukadevi and Sushilkumar investigated and filed a charge-sheet confirming the crimes.
After reviewing evidence and witness testimonies, Judge Yamanappa Bammanagi convicted Sonu, sentencing him to life imprisonment with a ₹20,000 fine under Section 6 of the PoCSO Act and 20 years in prison with a ₹10,000 fine under Section 4(2). The judge also directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide ₹7,00,000 in compensation to the victim within one month.
