A special POCSO court in Jaipur has sentenced a schoolteacher and his accomplice to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment each for the kidnapping, repeated rape, and blackmail of a 16-year-old student. The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 4.50 lakh on the convicts.
Case Background
The case came to light on January 2, 2024, when the girl's family filed a missing person report at Jobner police station, suspecting the teacher's involvement. Police traced and arrested the suspect in Sirsa, Haryana, and recovered the minor.
Details of the Crime
According to special public prosecutor Mahavir Singh Kishnawat, the victim stated that the teacher raped her, recorded obscene photos and videos, and used them to blackmail her by threatening to make them viral. This led to repeated sexual assaults at multiple locations, including a hotel in Jobner. She further revealed that on January 1, 2024, the teacher and his accomplice kidnapped her and took her toward Haryana via Delhi Road, raping her in the car during the journey.
Investigation and Trial
Police conducted a prompt medical examination and monitored the investigation under the Jaipur Range 'Case Officer Scheme.' A chargesheet was filed under the POCSO Act and relevant IPC sections, supported by scientific and technical evidence. During the trial, statements of 16 witnesses were recorded, and 68 documents were exhibited.
Sentencing
The court sentenced the teacher to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 2.75 lakh, and the accomplice to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1.75 lakh. The sentences will run concurrently.
