A special court in Hyderabad on Wednesday convicted 33 persons in a human trafficking and sexual exploitation case investigated by the Women Safety Wing of the Crime Investigation Department (CID), with five of them sentenced to life imprisonment. The court also ordered compensation of ₹5 lakh each to nine victim girls, in addition to compensation they had already received under the law.The Special Sessions Court for PoCSO Act Cases, FTSC, HACA Bhavan, convicted the accused in a case registered by the CID in 2015. The court sentenced three accused to rigorous imprisonment for 14 years, 14 to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and 11 to rigorous imprisonment for three years.The case began after a victim approached the CID on July 17, 2015, stating that she had been promised employment by a person known to her from her village. She was subsequently introduced to three other persons and taken to various places, where she was allegedly forced into prostitution and subjected to assault and sexual exploitation.The victim remained under their control for about four months before escaping and approaching the CID.Based on her complaint, CID police conducted searches and raids at brothel premises. During the operation, 45 accused persons were apprehended and nine minor girls, along with other victims, were rescued. Incriminating material was also seized.Following investigation, police filed a charge sheet before the court. The accused were prosecuted under various provisions of the IPC, PoCSO Act and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, among other laws.The Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority was directed to take steps for payment at the earliest. The fine amounts were also ordered to be paid to the victims as compensation. Published - August 20, 2026 06:51 pm IST