Chandrapur court gives 20 years' rigorous imprisonment in POCSO case over assault on Gondpipri girl

An additional sessions court in Chandrapur has sentenced a man to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment in a POCSO case. The case concerns the sexual assault of a six-year-old girl in Gondpipri taluka. Additional Sessions Judge P. M. Gupta held the accused guilty. The verdict came on November 3, 2026. The convict is said to be 26 years old.

According to the police, the incident took place on February 16, 2022, between about 7 pm and 7.30 pm. The girl was playing at the time. The accused is alleged to have caught her by the hand, forcibly dragged her into his house and bolted the door from inside. He then sexually assaulted her.

Neighbours heard the girl crying and screaming. They rushed to the spot, opened the door of the house and rescued her.

On a complaint from the girl's family, Crime No. 5/2022 was registered against the accused at Dhaba police station. The case was registered under Sections 376(A)(B), 366, 354(D), 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, along with Sections 4, 6 and 8 of the POCSO Act. The then sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Raja Pawar investigated the case thoroughly. On completing the investigation, he filed the chargesheet in court as Special Sessions Case No. 37/2022.

The trial was held in the sessions court at Chandrapur, and the final verdict came on November 3, 2026. Assistant Public Prosecutor Adv. Sudhakar Degawar argued the case for the prosecution. The court accepted the strong evidence and witnesses produced by the prosecution and found the accused guilty.

Under Section 376(A),(B) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, the court imposed 20 years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000. In default of payment, he must serve one month's simple imprisonment. Under Section 366, he was given 3 years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000. In default of this fine, he will serve 15 days' simple imprisonment.

Raja Pawar, then the sub-divisional police officer, served as investigating officer in the trial. Sudhakar Atmaram Kohpare, of Dhaba police station, handled court pursuit, and Assistant Police Inspector Virendra Kedare of the same station acted as the adoption officer. The conviction cell also assisted. The action was completed under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Ayush Nopani, Additional Superintendent of Police Ishwar Katkade and the sub-divisional police officer of Rajura.