Man in Chennai sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping underage girl

A special court that hears only cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has sentenced a 40-year-old man to 20 years in prison for raping a minor girl.

Last year, the All Women Police in Mylapore registered a case based on a complaint by the parents of a child under various sections of the POCSO Act. The victim was six years old and was repeatedly sexually abused by a relative of the family. The accused was arrested by the police and remanded in custody.

The trial was held before the special court on the campus of the Madras High Court. At the end of the trial, the special court found the man guilty and convicted him of the offence under Section 6 of the POCSO Act (punishment for aggravated sexual assault by penetration). He was sentenced by the court to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000, police said.