The 21st Additional Sessions Judge (Special POCSO Court), Kshipra Patel, convicted the accused, Dinesh of Karida Bag in Dhar district, under multiple aggravated clauses of the POCSO Act — Sections 5M/6, 5J(iii)/6 and 5(R)/6 — along with Section 307 of the IPC. He was additionally awarded five years’ rigorous imprisonment under IPC Section 366 and fined ₹42,000. The court also recommended ₹3 lakh compensation to the survivor under the Victim Compensation Scheme.
Special public prosecutors Sushila Rathore and Preeti Agrawal represented the state. Acting deputy director prosecution Rajendra Singh Bhadoriya confirmed the sentencing.
In its order, the court remarked that the offence reflected a “criminal and perverted mindset,” noting that the child was taken from inside her home in the middle of the night, assaulted and left grievously injured. It added that in the current environment, women and children face dangers even within their homes, making minimum punishment “neither just nor lawful.” Thirty-one witnesses were examined during the trial.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on the night of October 12, 2022, when the child’s family — caretakers at an under-construction house — had been sleeping in open rooms without doors. Around 2 am, the parents discovered their younger daughter missing. A kidnapping case was registered at Chandan Nagar police station.
Hours later, Dial-100 constable Abhinav Sen found the child injured in bushes near Reti Mandi Road. CCTV footage collected from the area showed a truck entering and exiting the lane where the family lived. The survivor’s father identified the vehicle as that driven by Dinesh. DNA analysis later confirmed his involvement.
Sen, who located the child, said he welcomed the verdict, adding he felt “relieved” that the accused received strict punishment.
With the conviction now secured, officials said the case underscores the need for vigilance and swift action in crimes against children.
