Odisha: Stepfather sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping 12-year-old step daughter

Balasore: A POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court in Odisha's Balasore district has awarded 20 years RI to a 42-year-old man for sexually assaulting his 12 year old minor step daughter.

The Special judge POCSO court of Balasore Ranjan Kumar Sutar also imposed a fine of Rs.5000 on the man, who has to undergo a further period of two years jail in default of payment of fine.

Special Public Prosecutor Pranab Kumar Panda said the court announced the judgment after examining 15 witnesses and 17 exhibits under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act.

The court directed that Rs 4 lakh compensation for the victim be paid through district legal services authority (DLSA).

According to the prosecution, the convict, Manoranjan Behera, a resident of Patharapura under Jaleswar police station limit, committed the offence when the victim was alone in the house. The victim narrated her ordeals when her mother returned home.

The victim's mother lodged an FIR with police on April 2, 2019. Police investigated the matter, arrested the accused and forwarded him to court.