Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping minor girl

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A special court for cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in the city has sentenced a 27-yearold man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor in 2021. M Nagaraj alias Venkatesh, a resident of H Kothanur in Kanakapura, also has to pay a fine of Rs 30,000.

Special judge Ishrat Jahan Ara said in case of default, Nagaraj will have to undergo one more year of simple imprisonment. Nagaraj befriended the survivor, who was 15 years when the offence took place, and promised to marry her. On August 3, 2021, Nagaraj took the girl to his friend's house near Anekal in Bengaluru Rural. He told his friend and his wife that he would marry her.

According to the friend, Nagaraj lied to him that she was a major. The friend deposed before the court, confirming that Nagaraj had stayed with the minor girl in August 2021 at his house," public prosecutor Geeta Gorwar said. During the stay there, Nagaraj raped the minor, said the charge-sheet filed by the Banashankari police.