Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Assault on Minor

Swift Summary

• A Fast-Track Mahila Court in Coimbatore sentenced a 27-year-old man, R. Gowrishankar, to 20 years’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl.
• The incident occurred in 2020 when the accused kidnapped and married a 17-year-old girl before committing sexual assault. The case was reported on July 9, 2021.
• Legal charges included Section 366 of the IPC (kidnapping), Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and Sections 5(L) and 6 of the POCSO Act.
• Gowrishankar received a sentence of:

– 20 years for sexual assault, with a fine of ₹5,000;
– 5 years for kidnapping, with another ₹5,000 fine;
– 1 year for marrying her, along with an additional ₹5,000 fine.
– All sentences will run concurrently.

• He is now lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison.

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Indian Opinion Analysis
The judgment delivered by the Fast-Track Mahila Court underscores India’s ongoing efforts toward addressing crimes against minors through timely legal interventions under stringent laws like POCSO and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. While this decision sets an example by holding perpetrators accountable with significant penalties, it also highlights critical societal issues such as child protection gaps and cases involving exploitation under claims of marriage involving minors.

The concurrent sentencing structure reduces cumulative punishment but ensures proportional justice based on each offense’s gravity while reiterating no tolerance for such actions under Indian law.this case reaffirms that legal redress mechanisms can be effective deterrents if efficiently enforced-a key step towards safeguarding children’s rights amidst increasing public awareness around these crimes.