Shirahatti man gets 20 years rigorous imprisonment for raping minor girl

GADAG: The Gadag District and Sessions Court has awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 fine on a 40-year-old man accused of raping a minor. The incident occurred on March 22, 2020 and a case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Shirahatti police station.

A POCSO case was registered at the Shirahatti Police Station in Gadag district.

Judge Rajeshwar Shetty also ordered the government to provide Rs 5 lakh towards the rehabilitation and education of the minor victim. The girl’s parents are labourers working in Goa and she was staying with her grandparents.

Vageesh Lamani, the convicted.

According to Public Prosecutor Ambarish, the 11-year-old girl was playing in front of her house when her neighbour Vageesh Lamani invited her to his house to watch a TV serial.

Public Prosecutor Ambarish.

“It was afternoon and there was no one else in his house at that time. After the 30-minute serial got over, he forced her to stay back saying that a better show was coming up. When the girl tried to leave, he took her to a room, tied her hands and legs and sexually assaulted her. She was taken to hospital that evening”, he explained.

Gadag SP Shivaprakash.

Gadag Superintendent of Police Shivaprakash said, “Since the victim was a minor, it was important for us to secure a conviction. The trial also has concluded speedily in two years. Our investigation team and the prosecution team have done a commendable job.”