Rae Bareli: A POCSO court in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli has created a new record by convicting a rape accused and awarding life sentence to him in a span of 10 working days. Special judge (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) Vijay Pal convicted 30-year-old accused Ram Milan Lodhi and delivered verdict in 10 days. He also slapped a fine of Rs 22,000 fine on Lodhi for the treatment and rehabilitation of the survivor. A six-year-old was sexually assaulted by the accused while she was alone at home on September 17. Her mother lodged a complaint on September 18.
Circle officer, Maharajganj, Vineet Singh said: “The mother alleged that Ram Milan Lodhi had assaulted her daughter. We lodged a case under 354 (A) of IPC, Pocso and SC/ST Act.” Lodhi was arrested on September 19 and the survivor’s statement was recorded under Section 164 of CrPC the following day. Later, in the charge sheet, IPC 354 A (sexual harassment) was changed to IPC 376 AB (rape),” he said. On September 21, police recorded statements of mother and six witnesses and filed a charge sheet on September 23. Rae Bareli Superintendent of Police (SP), Swapnil Mamgain, said that the judgment will set a trend of quick convictions in POCSO cases.
In another case, the court in Auraiyya had delivered judgment within 16 days. Anshu, 19, was awarded life imprisonment in a case of rape with a 10-year-old girl and slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh. The verdict came in 16 days while the police filed the charge sheet in 14 days. “The assault took place on September 9 in Dibiyapur police station area. We lodged FIR and filed the charge sheet in 14 days under IPC 376 (AB) and POCSO,” said SP Auraiyya Suniti. (IANS)