A 25-year-old man from Valsad district in Gujarat was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 3-year-old girl. The incident occurred on August 27, 2024, and the accused was arrested shortly after. The special court in Vapi, established under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), delivered the verdict in just six months.

Earlier, the police had filed a chargesheet in just nine days, ensuring speedy trials for such a serious act.During the trial, prosecutor Anil Tripathi presented the testimony of 20 witnesses, including the victim.

With this, for the first time in cases related to POCSO Act, the verdict was announced in just six months.

Along with life imprisonment,  the court ordered a compensation of ₹6 lakh to the victim's family and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the accused.

In Valsad, this is considered the first conviction of life imprisonment registered under the BNS (Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita).

Home Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghavi, appreciated the Valsad police team for their speedy investigation and trial, which led to the early conviction of the accused.

The incident sparked widespread outrage, with locals rallying in protest and demanding justice for the victim. The accused was arrested from Maharashtra, and the police collected medical evidence and other circumstantial evidence related to the case.