Hyderabad: A Special POCSO Court in Rajendranagar convicted a gymnastics coach and a school principal in a child sexual assault case and awarded stringent punishments under a POCSO case conviction delivered on Tuesday.
The court sentenced gymnastics and karate coach Kura Kiran Sai, 31, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.20,000. The court also sentenced former school principal Chilakamukku Deepika, 37, to three years of simple imprisonment and fined her Rs.1,000.
Special Judge T. Srinivas additionally awarded compensation of Rs.3 lakh to the victim.
POCSO case conviction follows 2019 complaint
The case originated from a complaint lodged on June 27, 2019, by the father of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl.
According to the complaint, the child showed unusual behaviour and complained of pain after returning from preschool. Subsequently, she informed her parents that the coach had sexually abused her.
During the investigation, police found that the accused allegedly took the child to a gymnastics room on June 20, 2019, when the school van arrived late. Investigators alleged that he committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault inside the school premises.
POCSO case conviction ends lengthy trial
The prosecution argued that negligence by the school principal enabled the offence to occur. Therefore, investigators included her in the case. Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Authorities arrested both accused on July 2, 2019. Later, police filed a charge sheet before the court. After examining the evidence and hearing arguments, the court delivered the POCSO case conviction and imposed the sentences on both accused.