Indore Court Sentences Man to Life Imprisonment for Raping Minor and Forcing Abortion

A POCSO court in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, sentenced Abhishek (20) to life imprisonment for raping a minor girl and forcing her to have an abortion. The verdict came after a detailed investigation and court hearing, culminating in a life term and a fine of Rs 4,000.

In a landmark verdict, a special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has sentenced a 20-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of a minor and for coercing her into undergoing an abortion. Abhishek, a resident of Raisen, received this harsh sentence and a Rs 4,000 fine under IPC sections 376(2)(N), 313, and sections 5(L) read with 6, and 5(J)(ii) read with 6 of the POCSO Act, as confirmed by District Prosecution Officer (DPO) Sanjeev Srivastava.

Sanjeev Srivastava revealed further details, noting that the case came to light on March 20, 2021, when a sub-inspector from Azad Nagar police station recorded the victim's statement at MY Hospital. The victim recounted that she had known the accused, who lived in the same housing complex, for a while. He allegedly lured her with promises of marriage, leading to multiple instances of sexual exploitation beginning in August 2020.

Upon discovering her pregnancy, the victim informed Abhishek, who provided her with abortion pills. The abortion, self-administered on March 3, 2021, led to severe health complications, prompting her parents to take her to MY Hospital, where the full story emerged. The case was registered under multiple IPC and POCSO sections, culminating in a life sentence for Abhishek after a rigorous court process.

(With inputs from agencies.)