The Principal District and Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced Ramesh (22) from Kanyana to seven years rigorous imprisonment (RI) after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl under Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The charge-sheet said Ramesh took the girl to Dharmasthala in September 2013, tied a necklace around her neck stating that they were married. He then brought her to a house in Konaje in Mangalore where he sexually assaulted her.
Meanwhile, the girl’s mother filed a complaint against Ramesh and his relative Babu Koraga (60). The two were charged under Sections 366 (a), 109 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
During trial, most of the witnesses, including the girl, turned hostile. Public Prosecutor K. Pushparaj relied on the evidence of Additional Civil Judge, Puttur, Saravanan, who had recorded the statement of the victim under Section 164 of Criminal Procedure Code wherein she had narrated the sexual assault.
Principal District and Sessions Judge Uma M.G. convicted Ramesh under Section 4 of the Act on Wednesday. The judge, however, acquitted Babu Koraga. On Thursday, the victim and her family appeared before the court and filed a representation stating that a compromise had been arrived with Ramesh. But the judge refused to entertain the petition and sentenced Ramesh. The judge also directed Ramesh to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000, of which Rs. 5,000 will be given to the girl. Thursday’s order was the first by the court after it was designated as Special Court to try cases under the Act.
