Delhi Court Awards 20-Year Sentence in POCSO Case for Repeated Rape of Minor

A Delhi court has sentenced Akash to 20 years under POCSO for raping and impregnating a 14-year-old after giving her an intoxicating drink. The court also imposed a seven-year imprisonment under IPC Section 328, awarded Rs. 15 lakh compensation to the victim, reinforcing her right to redressal.

In a landmark decision, Delhi's Tis Hazari Court has sentenced a man to 20 years of imprisonment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused, Akash, was found guilty of repeatedly raping and impregnating a 14-year-old girl after intoxicating her in 2019.

Additional Sessions Judge Preeti Parewa, who presided over the case, also sentenced Akash to an additional seven-year term under Section 328 of the Indian Penal Code for administering an intoxicating substance. The court ordered Akash to pay fines totaling Rs. 70,000 and awarded Rs. 15 lakh as compensation to the victim, emphasizing the victim's fundamental right to monetary redressal.

The court noted that the acts committed by the convict have caused severe harm to the victim's mental and physical health, affecting her ability to lead a normal life. The judge remarked on the broader responsibility of the justice system to not only punish offenders but also rehabilitate victims, stressing the importance of compensation in restoring dignity.

(With inputs from agencies.)