POCSO Court Sentences Man for Abduction and Rape of Minor

A POCSO court in Bundi convicted Shetan Meena, 24, for the abduction and rape of a minor girl in June 2022. He received a 20-year prison sentence, an Rs 80,000 fine, and was ordered to pay Rs 4 lakh to the survivor for her livelihood. The couple now has a one-year-old child.

A POCSO court in Bundi has rendered a historic verdict, convicting Shetan Meena, a 24-year-old local, for abducting and raping a 17-year-old girl in June 2022. The court imposed a 20-year prison term on Meena, despite his subsequent marriage to the victim when she reached adulthood.

According to public prosecutor Rakesh Thakur, the court also fined Meena Rs 80,000 and mandated that he pay Rs 4 lakh to the survivor for her livelihood throughout his imprisonment. The minor's father had reported her missing on June 2, 2022, and suspected Meena's involvement.

Following extensive search operations, police rescued the girl roughly a month later and arrested Meena, who was eventually released on bail. The court's verdict emerged after recording statements from 12 witnesses and examining 29 documents. Thakur emphasized the court's recognition of the survivor's under-aged status, which led to Meena's conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act, 2012.

(With inputs from agencies.)