Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Mar 7: Ravi T Naik (33), a resident of Nekkilady Talehitlu, who was accused of raping a minor girl four years back and posed her death threat, was found guilty and sentenced by the fifth additional and POCSO court here to ten years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) besides imposing a fine of Rs 25,000.

Ravi Naik reportedly led a girl to a hillock near her home on August 21, 2016, by promising to show her a monitor lizard. He was accused of raping her there and threatening her of murder if she revealed the rape incident to anybody.

On the basis of complaint filed by the mother of the girl, Uppinangady police had registered case under different sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Indian Penal Code, had conducted investigation and filed charge sheet in the second sessions court which also happened to be special POCSO court. The case was later transferred to the district court at Puttur.

Judge of the special POCSO court Rudolph Pereira, found that the charges have been proved against the accused, and awarded ten years RI apart from fine of Rs 25,000 on the offender. In case of failure to pay fine, he will be kept behind the bars for an additional year. He also was given one year imprisonment and fine of Rs 5,000 under section 8 and one year imprisonment and fine of 10,000 under different sections.