Court sends auto driver to 10 years RI for abducting, raping minor

The Additional District and Sessions Court (Special Court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) in Kalaburagi has sentenced a 26-year-old autorickshaw driver to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on him after finding him guilty of abducting and sexually assaulting a minor girl.

The convict, Gundappa G. Kushalkar, was found guilty of abducting the girl from a village coming under the jurisdiction of the Sub Urban Police and taking her to a lodge where he sexually assaulted her on May 19, 2024.

Based on a complaint, the Sub-Urban Police registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. After completing investigation, the police filed a charge-sheet before the Special Court.

After examining oral and documentary evidence placed before it during trial, the court held the accused guilty and sentenced him to 10 years rigorous imprisonment.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the convict. In the event of failure to pay the fine, the convict will have to undergo default sentence as stipulated by court.

Judge of the Additional District and Sessions Court (Special POCSO Court) S.L. Chavan awarded the sentence. Special Public Prosecutor Shantveer B. Tuppad represented the prosecution.