Odisha Court Sentences Man for Heinous Crime

A man was sentenced to 20 years in jail in Ganjam district, Odisha, for raping a 14-year-old girl multiple times. The special POCSO court also imposed a Rs 5,000 fine and directed Rs 10.50 lakh compensation to the victim, an orphan.

A special court in Odisha's Ganjam district has sentenced a man to 20 years for repeatedly raping a 14-year-old girl. The convict had first raped her on June 15, 2024, by the village pond and continued to assault her under threats of silence.

The case came to light when one of the girl's relatives informed the police, leading to a case being registered at Polasara police station on May 2 last year. The special POCSO court, presided over by Judge Pranati Pattnaik, also imposed a Rs 5,000 fine on the convict.

The court has directed that in case of non-payment of the fine, an additional six months of imprisonment will be enforced, according to special public prosecutor Narayan Panda. The district legal service authorities have been instructed to provide Rs 10.50 lakh compensation to the victim. The judgment was based on statements from seven witnesses and medical reports.

(With inputs from agencies.)