Berhampur: After convicting a tuition teacher of sexually assaulting a minor girl student, a fast track POCSO court in Ganajam district today sentenced him to 20-year rigorous imprisonment. 

The POCSO Court Judge Rohitlal Panda, found the accused Kartik Nayak of Khallikote guilty in the case. Nayak was also fined ₹50,000, which will be paid to the survivor. In case of non-payment of the fine, the court directed an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.

The court further ordered the District Legal Services Authority to provide financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the survivor.
Meanwhile, the accused’s mother, Manjulata Nayak, was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

According to case details, the incident occurred on August 23, 2021, when the accused, who worked as a private tutor in Khallikote, allegedly called an 8-year-old Class III student to the upper floor of his house after tuition hours, sending other children away.

He then allegedly assaulted and raped the minor. When the child screamed, he reportedly threatened her.
After returning home, the victim narrated the incident to her mother. Noticing bleeding, the family immediately rushed her to a nearby hospital.

Later, the victim’s mother lodged a complaint at Khallikote police station. Police registered a case and arrested the accused, subsequently filing a chargesheet against him and his mother.

During the trial, statements of 10 witnesses were recorded. Based on their testimonies and evidence, the court delivered the verdict.