Mangaluru: The additional district and sessions FTSC-II (Pocso) sentenced a 43-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 55,000 for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor girl under the pretext of marriage.The convict is Sameer from Lingappayya Kadu Bijapur Colony in Mulki. The minor girl, who discontinued her education, was staying with her mother, who runs a restaurant. Sameer was supplying chicken to the restaurant. He claimed that he was unmarried, though he was a married man. He befriended the girl and gradually persuaded her to elope. He also threatened to kill himself. Later, he abducted her in a car and took her to Sagar in Shivamogga district on June 28, 2024. Sameer, who sexually assaulted the girl in a lodge, also took her to Chitradurga, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Surathkal police arrested him at the KSRTC bus stand after he returned to Mangaluru on Aug 28.A charge-sheet against him was filed by the then inspector Raghu Naik and PSI Mahesh Prasad. Judge Maanu KS sentenced Sameer to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 under Section 376(2) of the IPC and Section 6 of the Pocso. In default of payment, he must serve an additional four months of simple imprisonment. He was also sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a Rs 5,000 fine under IPC Section 363 for kidnapping. In default, he will serve one additional month of simple imprisonment. The co-accused, Nagraj, a staff member of the lodge, was acquitted. Special Public Prosecutor Sahana Devi Boloor argued on behalf of the prosecution.The court ordered that the fine amount of Rs 55,000 be paid to the girl. The District Legal Services Authority has also been directed to provide her Rs 3.4 lakh as compensation.
