A Special Court constituted to hear offences under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has sentenced a man to 12 years rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly raping a minor and impregnating her.

The man, who was convicted, is 30-year-old S. Somashekar, a resident of Koppaluru village in Mysuru Taluk. He has two children. In the charge-sheet filed by the Police two years ago, he was accused of raping a minor who was living in front of his house with her father. The minor’s father was a daily wage labourer and used to leave the house early. The girl was suffering from epilepsy.

Taking advantage of the situation, Somashekar used to rape her on a daily basis. As a result, the girl got pregnant and Somashekar had threatened to kill her if she had told her father about the rape and her becoming pregnant. Terrorised by him, the minor kept the issue a secret. However, her bodily changes were observed by her sister when she visited the house after a few months.

On suspicion, the minor’s sister took her to a hospital where the doctors confirmed that she was seven-month pregnant and the doctors got her admitted to Cheluvamba Hospital where the Police were informed as she was a minor. On enquiry, the minor did not reveal Somashekar’s name as he had threatened to kill her. After much convincing and assurances, the minor revealed the rapist’s name.

Based on the minor’s statement, the Mysuru Rural Police had booked a case and arrested Somashekar while the minor was shifted to girl’s Balamandira. The Police later obtained DNA samples of the accused and the minor and tests revealed that Somashekar had fathered the child. Police Inspector Mahesh, who was recently killed in an accident on Mysuru-T. Narasipur Road, had filed a charge-sheet then along with corroborative evidence in the court that has resulted in the conviction.

Hearing the case, POCSO Special Court Judge V.M. Pavale convicted Somashekar to 12 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of Rs. 25,000 to be paid to the minor. The Court has also asked the District Legal Services Authority to pay more compensation to the minor. Public Prosecutor B.C. Shivarudraswamy had argued the case.