Court Verdict / Baripada POCSO Court Hands 20-Year Jail Term in Minor Rape Case
Key Points
Baripada POCSO Court sentenced Ratikanta Dalai to 20 years in jail and fined ₹30,000 for raping a minor, also granting ₹6 lakh compensation to the survivor.
Baripada, Sep 28: Baripada’s Special POCSO Court has delivered a landmark judgment in a rape case, sentencing the accused to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹30,000. The court ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional three months of imprisonment.
The case dates back to incidents in Majuraposhi village under Thakurmunda police limits, where the accused, Ratikanta Dalai, was found guilty of repeatedly sexually assaulting a minor girl.
Also read: Nimapada Gang-Rape Allegation at Nandhini Guest House; 4 Arrested
According to case records, Dalai lured the victim’s father away before forcing himself on the girl against her will. Over time, the assaults led to the victim’s pregnancy, and in June 2021 she gave birth to a baby girl at Thakurmunda hospital.
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✨Following a complaint lodged by the victim’s family, police registered a case and forwarded the accused to court. After examining all witnesses and evidence, Judge Chinmaya Mishra pronounced the verdict, holding Dalai guilty under POCSO provisions.
In addition to the prison sentence and fine, the court
directed that the survivor be granted ₹6 lakh as compensation. Special Public
Prosecutor Ashwini Kumar Mohant represented the case, ensuring justice for the
minor victim.