Man gets 32 years in jail in POCSO case in Nalgonda

A POCSO Court in Nalgonda sentenced Gurijala Chandu of Panagallu village to 32 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor and forcing her into marriage. The court also imposed a fine of Rs.75,000 and awarded Rs.10 lakh compensation to the victim.

Nalgonda: In a landmark verdict, the POCSO Court in Nalgonda sentenced a man to 32 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl and coercing her into marriage.

The accused, Gurijala Chandu, a resident of Panagallu village near Nalgonda town, was arrested following a complaint filed in 2022 at the Nalgonda Two Town police station. The police registered a case under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and conducted an enquiry. It was alleged that Chandu had sexually assaulted the underage victim and subsequently forced her into a marriage to cover up the crime. During the trial, presided over by Judge Rojava Ramani, the court reviewed evidence, including witness testimonies and forensic reports.

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The involvement of the accused was finally proved in the crime. Delivering the judgment on Wednesday, the court imposed a sentence of 32 years in jail on Chandu, along with a fine of Rs.75,000. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional six months of imprisonment. The judge also directed payment of Rs.10 lakh as compensation to the minor victim to aid her rehabilitation and psychological recovery.