Odisha man gets 20-year jail term for raping minor girl

Bhubaneswar: The court of Additional District Judge (ADJ) in Odisha’s Sonepur district today sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the rape of a minor girl three years ago.

Sonepur ADJ Purnima Jena also slapped a penalty of Rs 10,000 on convict Sunil Sahu of Tentulimahada village under Biramaharajpur police limits in the district. As per the verdict, non-payment of the penalty amount would invite additional prison terms for six months.

The judge awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to convict under Section 376 (3) of the IPC and six months of jail term under Section 323. The jail term will run concurrently, said the judge in her verdict.

Sunil had raped the 15-year-old girl after luring her to the backyard of his neighbour on July 26, 2020.

The police had registered a case and nabbed Sunil on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim’s father.

The ADJ convicted Sunil after examining at least 13 witnesses and other evidence to the case, said Special Public Prosecutor Dasharath Mahana.