Baripada: In a stern verdict delivered by the Special POCSO Court in Baripada, a 70-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl.

Special POCSO Judge Chinmaya Mishra pronounced the judgment, also imposing a fine of Rs 40,000 on the convict. The court ordered that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional 3 months of imprisonment.

Case details and investigation

According to Special Public Prosecutor Aswini Kumar Mohanty, the crime dates back to December 11, 2021. The accused, Jagannath Mohanty (70) of Sanahatanabeda village under the Badampahar police station limits, targeted the minor victim while she was grazing cows near the Dhanipat football field.

The accused gagged the victim, committed the assault, and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incident to anyone. He subsequently subjected her to repeated abuse.

The ordeal came to light when the victim's family noticed physical changes. A formal written complaint was then lodged at the Badampahar police station.

Police registered a case on July 1, 2022, arrested the accused, and forwarded him to court.

The prosecution successfully proved the charges relying on:

• The victim's statement
• Testimonies from 22 witnesses
• A crucial DNA test report

The court convicted the accused under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and Section 376 of the IPC, delivering the final ruling based on the comprehensive body of evidence and testimonies presented.