Mangalore, July 18: Dakshina Kannada district and sessions court has sentenced seven years of rigorous imprisonment to Ramesh (22) from Kanyana in Bantwal taluk, who reportedly succeeded in convincing a minor girl from Puttur taluk to run off with him, and then raped her by making her believe that he intended to marry her.
Ramesh found guilty of various offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act 2012. The court also absolved the other accused, Babu Koraga (61) of the charges levelled against him.
This happens to be the first judgment under POSCO Act to be delivered by Dakshina Kannada district court. The judge found the accused guilty of the charges, even though the 17-year-old girl and her relatives turned hostile later and recorded statements which were found to be contrary to their previous stands.
It is learnt that the accused and the victim are distant relatives. Ramesh came close to the girl and befriended her. The girl, who trusted the boy, left home at 4 am on September 3, 2013 and reached Uppinangady. After taking her to Pattori near Konaje, he had forced her to have sex with him. Promising to marry her, he then took her to Konanakunte in Bangalore, stayed with her in a rented house there, and raped her many times thereafter, it is learnt.
Kadaba police sub-inspector, Yogeesh Kumar, and other personnel had arrested the accused and registered case, besides filing charge sheet in the court. The then judge of the court, Sharavanan, had recorded the statement of the girl under POSCO Act.
Uma M.G, Judge of POSCO special court and district chief and sessions court, basing her judgment on the statement recorded in the court by the girl under the said act, sentenced Ramesh to seven years imprisonment apart from levying a fine of Rs 10,000.
She also ordered for payment of Rs 5,000 out of the above fine to the victim. The judge prescribed that in case of failure to pay fine, Ramesh will have to undergo six additional months of imprisonment.
