Panchkula: A Fast Track Special Court in Panchkula Monday convicted a 30-year-old man and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, and making her pregnant.The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict, which will be given to the victim as compensation.The prosecution lawyer stated the matter came to light on March 22, 2022, when the minor victim was taken to the Civil Hospital in Sector 6, after complaining of severe stomach pain. Medical examinations and a subsequent medical legal case (MLC) report revealed that the girl was two months pregnant.Following the medical disclosure, police were informed, and child welfare authorities, including a legal aid counsellor and a child welfare committee (CWC) member, were brought in to counsel the minor.The victim’s mother subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the police station concerned. According to the complaint, the accused lived in the victim’s neighborhood. He had established physical relations with the 16-year-old on the false pretext of marriage.Following a preliminary investigation and a site inspection, the Panchkula police arrested the accused on March 23, 2022. During questioning, the police also noted that the accused was a repeat offender, with a prior criminal record registered against him at the same police station under Section 395 (dacoity) of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act dating back to 2018.After evaluating the medical evidence, the victim’s statement, and the police investigation reports, the court found the accused guilty under Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Pocso Act.
