Kota Court Sentences 2 Individuals to Life Term for Raping Minor Girl

A POCSO court in Kota (Rajasthan) has sentenced two men to life imprisonment in a rape case of a 16-year-old girl in 2020.

Ravi Kumar Punia (38), hailing from Kasni village in Jhanjunu district, and his accomplice Rupesh (28) from Thothi village of the same district, were found guilty by the court, confirmed public prosecutor Lalit Kumar Sharma.

Additionally, the court levied a fine of Rs 35,000 on Kumar and Rs 30,000 on Rupesh, Sharma mentioned.

The incident occurred in September 2020, as per Sharma.

According to the minor’s testimony, Kumar initiated contact with her on social media, leading to phone conversations between them, the prosecutor detailed.

She alleged that Kumar enticed her and transported her to Jaipur in a car owned by Rupesh, who was also present on July 5, 2020, he elaborated.

The teenager asserted that Kumar assaulted her in a Jaipur hotel room, with Rupesh aiding him. Kumar purportedly made promises to marry her but left Jaipur after dropping her at a friend’s house, from where she subsequently returned to Kota.

Subsequently, Kumar ceased responding to her calls, prompting the girl to seek police intervention. At the time of the offense, Kumar, already a father, was 34 years old, Sharma highlighted.

Kumar and Rupesh were apprehended under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Based on the testimonies of 17 witnesses and pertinent documents, the POCSO court found Kumar and Rupesh culpable in the case, Sharma concluded.