Gujarat : POCSO Court Sentences Dehgam Resident to 20 Years in Prison for Child Rape

GANDHINAGAR,GUJARAT : In a landmark judgement, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court on Wednesday sentenced Sunil Mansinh alias Manusinh Babsinh Jhala, a resident of Babdalpura Kampa village in Dehgam, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 14,000 on Jhala for the rape of a minor girl.

The case dates back to September 14, 2019, when Jhala, exploiting the innocence of a minor girl, lured her into a love trap. Under the pretext of love and marriage, he kidnapped and raped her at several locations. The traumatized minor eventually confided in her father about the horrific ordeal she had been subjected to.

Upon learning about his daughter’s plight, the girl’s father immediately lodged a police complaint against Jhala. The police swung into action, conducting a thorough investigation into the allegations. Jhala was subsequently arrested under the stringent POCSO Act.

The police left no stone unturned in their quest for justice. They collected necessary supporting evidence, recorded the minor’s statement, and filed a charge sheet in November 2019. The case was then submitted to the Gandhinagar Special Second Additional District (Sp. Second AD) of the POCSO Court.

During the trial, the prosecution presented a watertight case against Jhala, highlighting the heinous nature of his crime and the trauma inflicted on the minor. Accepting the arguments put forth by the prosecution, the court found Jhala guilty of the charges leveled against him.

In its verdict, the court sentenced Jhala to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, reflecting the severity of his crime. The court also ordered Jhala to pay a fine of Rs. 14,000, further emphasizing the seriousness of the offence.