Identified as Shashi, the convict faced charges under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, coupled with an additional charge under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for assaulting a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.
The Additional Sessions Judge Kumar Rajat, while delivering the verdict, noted the severity of the crime, stating that the "immense mental trauma to the victim and her parents" was a consequence of the heinous act. The court sentenced the woman to a decade of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹16,000.
Recognizing mitigating circumstances, such as the convict's poor socio-economic background and her role as the sole breadwinner for her family, the court opted to sentence her only under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, considering it a higher degree of offense. The court emphasized the fundamental purpose of sentencing, asserting that justice must be served for the victim and society, ensuring the offender does not evade punishment.
This case echoes a similar instance in March of the previous year, where a POCSO court in Madhya Pradesh's Indore sentenced a 24-year-old woman to 10 years in jail for sexually assaulting a minor boy. The woman, from Rajasthan, had developed a relationship with a 15-year-old boy when she was 19. Found guilty under Section 5L/6 of the POCSO Act for sexual harassment, she received ten years of rigorous imprisonment. Additionally, she faced a five-year sentence under Section 363 of the IPC for abduction.
These verdicts underscore the commitment of the legal system to mete out justice, holding individuals accountable for heinous crimes against minors and ensuring a safer society for all.