Berhampur: A special Pocso fast-track court in Berhampur on Tuesday sentenced a 24-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor around six years ago in Ganjam district.
Judge Ganeshwar Pati also slapped a fine of Rs 80,000 on the convict. If he fails to pay the amount, he will have to serve another nine months of rigorous imprisonment, the court ordered.
The convict belonged to the same village as the 17-year-old rape survivor.
His father, mother and brother, who were implicated in the case, were acquitted by the court due to lack of evidence.
“The court also directed the district legal service authorities to pay Rs 4 lakh to the girl’s family members as compensation,” said Mohan Singari, special public prosecutor of the court.
The fine amount will be collected from the convict and then given to the girl, the court said.
The court pronounced the judgment after recording the statement of 11 witnesses, including police, doctor, family members of the girl and based on medical reports.
Sources said the convict raped the girl for several times under the pretext of marrying her. Her mother lodged an FIR at Chhatarpur police station against the convict and other family members on Sept 30, 2019.