• Source:JND
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Ahmedabad: A Surat court has sentenced a 22-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl. The ruling was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Bhavesh K. Avasiya, who also imposed a fine of Rs 1.75 lakh on the convict, along with an order for Rs 6 lakh compensation to be paid to the young survivor.

The convict, Rahul alias Palis Chauhan, was found guilty under multiple sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He lived in the same residential society as the victim and used this proximity to take advantage of her.

As per the case details, in October 2024, Chauhan called the girl to his apartment under the pretext of needing help with some work. Once inside, he sexually assaulted her. According to Hindustan times, around three weeks later, he again asked her to come over. When she refused, he threatened to expose her to her family. Out of fear, the girl went to his apartment and was assaulted again.

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On February 9, Chauhan attempted to call her again, but this time she resisted and gathered the courage to tell her mother. A police complaint was filed at Adajan Police Station on February 12. At the time of the assaults, the girl was just 12 years old.

During the trial, Additional Public Prosecutor Dipesh Dave presented a solid case, producing 10 witnesses and 29 pieces of documentary evidence, including the survivor’s testimony and medical reports that supported the charges.

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Chauhan pleaded not guilty and denied all accusations. His defense lawyer questioned the delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) and claimed the incident was part of a consensual relationship. However, the court rejected this argument, citing the girl’s age and the nature of the acts.

In its judgment, the court stated: “Considering the submissions made by both parties along with the matter of sentencing and the purpose of legally established punishment, the court recognises its sacred duty to ensure that such crimes are prevented and children remain safe in society.”

The court also emphasized that Chauhan was fully aware that the girl was a minor and that he "took advantage of her innocence and adolescence and committed the crime."

To aid in the survivor’s rehabilitation and future welfare, the court directed the District Legal Services Authority to ensure compensation is provided under the Gujarat Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019.

"Compensation of Rs 6 lakh to be provided to the girl. 80 per cent of this amount is to be invested in a fixed deposit in a nationalised bank in the name of the girl’s guardian for a minimum of three years, with the remaining 20 per cent to be deposited in a joint account of the girl and her parents for her welfare and education,” the court said.