Shimla: In a verdict today on March 20, 2024, Special Judge Amit Mandyal of the POCSO/Rape court in Shimla sentenced Deepak Batalu to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 in connection with FIR No. 43/21.
The charges against Batalu included sections 376 of the IPC and section 6 of the POCSO Act.
Additionally, the court ordered a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to be paid to the victim.
The case stemmed from an incident on April 17, 2021, when a seven-year-old girl was playing near her home.
Batalu, a neighbor, lured her into his house under the guise of showing her something on her phone and then raped her.
When the victim began bleeding, she confided in her mother, who informed her father upon his return from collecting wood in the forest.
The father then reported the incident to the Kasumpti police station, leading to the filing of FIR No. 43/21.
The prosecution presented its case with the testimony of 20 witnesses, and after due consideration, Special Judge Amit Mandyal convicted Batalu.
The prosecution was represented by Mrs. Sangeeta Justa, Deputy District Attorney.
