Bhawanipatna: A special POCSO court sentenced a man to 10 years of imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on him after convicting him of sexually abusing a minor girl. The court acquitted a couple in the case.
Magistrate Rashmita Dalei awarded the punishment to Basant Pradhani, 40, and ruled that the convict has to undergo an additional one year of imprisonment in default of the penalty.
The magistrate acquitted Rahas Majhi and his wife Pushpanjali in the case for want of evidence.
According to the case diary, Pradhani of Sundhipada village near M Rampur town visited Rahas’ house September 11, 2014. Pradhani sexually abused the minor girl in the house allegedly with the assistance of Rahas and Pushpanjali. He and the couple were arrested after the girl’s family lodged a complaint in Junagarh police station.
Special public prosecutor Susant Kumar Sahu pleaded the matter on behalf of the state government.
PNN