The Special Court for the trial of cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Coimbatore on Monday sentenced a 67-year-old man to life imprisonment for impregnating a minor girl in 2019.
Special court judge T. Bagavathiammal awarded the punishment to Sheik Baba, who hails from a residential area near Mettupalayam.
The case pertains to repeated sexual assault by Baba on a minor girl aged 15, who lived in his neighbourhood, in 2019. The man sexually assaulted the girl on multiple occasions for about six months when her parents were away for work.
The sexual assault came to light after the girl was found pregnant and she disclosed the ordeal to her mother. The parent lodged a complaint at the All Women Police Station (AWPS), Thudiyalur. The police arrested Baba on December 10, 2019.
The court found Baba guilty of offences under Sections 450, 376 (3), 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code, 5(l), (j)(ii) read with 6 of POCSO Act. He was awarded life imprisonment with a total fine of ₹25,000. The court ordered the State government to pay a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the survivor. AWPS Inspectors Meenambigai, Ananda Nayaki and Indrani Sobhia investigated and handled the case for trial.
