Hyderabad: A Hyderabad court sentenced a 70-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a POCSO case involving the sexual assault of a minor girl in Santoshnagar.
The judgment was delivered by M. Archana Kumari, XII Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Sessions Judge for Trial and Disposal of POCSO Act Cases, Hyderabad.
The court convicted Mohammed Zameeruddin under Section 376(2)(f) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on May 11, 2023, in Gulshan Iqbal Colony under Santoshnagar Police Station limits.
Investigators alleged that the accused lured the child into his stationery-cum-kirana shop when she arrived to purchase a milk packet.
The prosecution stated that he sexually assaulted the girl, showed her obscene material and threatened her with consequences if she disclosed the incident.
POCSO case ends with conviction and prison sentence
The child later informed her family about the incident. Subsequently, police registered a case and launched an investigation.
Following the trial, the court sentenced the accused to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.5,000.
The court also ordered an additional six months of simple imprisonment if the convict fails to pay the fine.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Sajjanar commended the investigation conducted by P. Shiva Chandra, who served as Inspector of Santoshnagar Police Station at the time of the investigation.
He also appreciated Additional Public Prosecutors A. Ram Reddy and J. Rama Krishna for presenting the prosecution’s case before the court.
Sajjanar said the conviction reflected the commitment of law enforcement agencies to pursue crimes against children and ensure justice through the legal process.