Ahmedabad POCSO Court Sentences Two Men To 20 Years For Sexually Assaulting Minor

A Special POCSO Court in Ahmedabad has sentenced two men, Abuzarkhan Pathan and Mohammad Shaikh, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old minor girl, resulting in her pregnancy and the birth of a child.

Special POCSO Court Judge A.B. Bhatt pronounced the conviction and sentence after considering the evidence presented during the trial.

According to the prosecution, the minor came into contact with Abuzarkhan through Snapchat in August 2024. The two subsequently communicated over mobile phones. The accused allegedly sexually assaulted her four times after using force and threatening to make a video of her viral and kill her family members.

The prosecution said Mohammad Shaikh later approached the girl after introducing himself as a friend of her brother. He allegedly expressed his affection for her and promised to marry her before sexually assaulting her after threatening to kill her.

Mother Approached Police After Suspecting Pregnancy

The case came to light after the girl's mother noticed irregularities in her daughter's menstrual cycle. When questioned, the girl disclosed her interactions with the accused and the alleged assaults.

The girl's mother subsequently filed a complaint at Shahpur Police Station. Police arrested both accused and later filed a charge sheet before the Special POCSO Court.

During the trial, a DNA profiling report established that Abuzarkhan was the biological father of the child born to the minor, according to the prosecution evidence.

Court Rejects Consent As A Defence Under POCSO

While sentencing the accused, the court noted that although the evidence indicated that the relationship appeared to be consensual, a minor's consent has no legal validity under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The court considered the evidence and submissions made by both sides before finding the two accused guilty and sentencing them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

Public Prosecutor K.G. Jain argued the case for the prosecution and established the charges by examining 18 witnesses and presenting 48 documentary pieces of evidence before the court.

Following consideration of the evidence on record and arguments from both sides, the court convicted and sentenced both accused.