Man gets 20 years RI for child marriage, rape

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Additional District and Sessions (Special) Court-FTSC-1 in Kalaburagi on Wednesday sentenced a 27-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for marrying a minor girl and repeatedly raping her. The court also ordered substantial monetary compensation to be paid to the victim to aid her rehabilitation.

The convict is Babu, a resident of Rikkin Alur village in Aland taluk of Kalaburagi district.

Pronouncing the quantum of punishment, Judge S.L. Chavan sentenced the convict to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on him under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, with default of payment attracting an additional six months of simple imprisonment.

Under Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the convict faces one year of imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000, failing which he will undergo an additional two months of simple imprisonment.

In a compassionate move, the court strictly directed the District Legal Services Authority to disburse a compensation of ₹5,00,000 to the survivor within one month from the date of the judgment.

According to the details shared by the Special Public Prosecutor’s office, the child marriage took place on March 5, 2023, at a residence in Rikkin Alur village.

The marriage was arranged and solemnized by the parents of both the minor girl and the accused.

Following the marriage, the accused subjected the minor girl to continuous sexual assault which eventually led to the victim becoming pregnant in December 2023. She subsequently gave birth to a baby girl on September 18, 2024.

The systemic exploitation came to light when the pregnant minor submitted her Aadhaar card to a local ASHA to register for the government’s Thayi Card for maternal health.

Upon entering the birth details into the official portal, the healthcare authorities detected that the mother was a minor and immediately alerted senior officials. A formal State complaint was promptly registered through the Narona Police, leading to a thorough investig