Hyderabad court convicts 33 persons in POCSO and PITA case

A Hyderabad court has convicted 33 persons in a POCSO and PITA case investigated by the Telangana CID. Five were sentenced to life imprisonment, while others received varying prison terms. The court also ordered compensation of Rs 5 lakh each.

Hyderabad: A local court sentenced 33 persons involved in a POCSO and PITA case to varying terms of imprisonment, including life imprisonment for five of them, in a case registered in 2015 and investigated by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Telangana police.

According to CID officials, the case came to light after a victim approached the CID on July 17, 2015. She told the police that a person known to her from her village had approached her with a promise of arranging employment. She was subsequently introduced to three persons and taken to different places, where she was allegedly forced into prostitution and subjected to physical and sexual abuse.

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“The victim reportedly remained under their control for about four months before managing to escape and approach the CID office. Based on her complaint, a case was registered and CID teams conducted searches and raids at suspected brothel premises. During the operations, 45 persons were apprehended and nine minor girls, along with other victims, were rescued. Police also seized incriminating material as part of the investigation,” said the CID officials.

After completing a detailed investigation and collecting evidence, the CID filed a charge sheet before the court against the persons found to be involved in the offences.

Following the trial, Uday Bhaskar Rao, Special Sessions Judge for POCSO Act Cases, Fast Track Special Court (FTSC), HACA Bhavan, Hyderabad, convicted 33 persons. Five were sentenced to life imprisonment, three were awarded 14 years of rigorous imprisonment, 14 were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and 11 were awarded three years of rigorous imprisonment.

The court also ordered compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to nine victim girls, considering the physical and mental trauma suffered by them. The compensation is in addition to the amounts already received by the victims under law.