Bihar man gets 20-year RI for sexually assaulting minor boy
In a landmark judgment underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to safeguarding children, the Court of Amar Jeet Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, sentenced 35-year-old Rajesh Kumar Mandal to 20 years’ of rigorous imprisonment (RI).
Mandal, a resident of Ward 3, Araichan Colony, Doraha, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a four-year-old boy.
Delivering the verdict, the court observed that the prosecution had presented cogent and convincing evidence, establishing guilt of the suspect in the heinous crime beyond any reasonable doubt.
Rejecting the convict’s plea for leniency, the judge emphasised the need for strict punishment to deter similar offences, especially those targeting minors.
Mandal, originally hailing from Banka district in Bihar, was convicted under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012.
Alongside the sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1,10,000 on the accused. The court further directed that Rs 1,00,000 from the fine be paid as compensation for the young victim’s rehabilitation and support.
The case was registered on October 23, 2023, at the Doraha police station, here. According to the complaint lodged by the victim’s father, his son was playing outside their home when Mandal, who was residing as a tenant in the area, lured the child away and sexually assaulted him. The brutal incident left the child in a distressing condition, prompting swift police action and investigation.
The verdict sends a strong message about
the zero-tolerance policy upheld by the judiciary against crimes involving minors, reinforcing the importance of the POCSO Act in ensuring child protection and justice.
Verdict upholds zero-tolerance policy
The court verdict sends a strong message about the zero-tolerance policy upheld by the judiciary against crimes involving minors, reinforcing the importance of the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act in ensuring child protection and justice.
