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POCSO Court Verdict: Girl Fled Willingly, Still Ruled Rape; Youth Sentenced to 20 Years.
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News18•29-09-2026, 19:18
POCSO Court Verdict: Girl Fled Willingly, Still Ruled Rape; Youth Sentenced to 20 Years.
- •A special POCSO court in Vadodara sentenced a young man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, despite the girl willingly eloping.
- •The court acknowledged that the relationship between the accused and the minor girl was a 'love affair' and consensual.
- •Since the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the incident, consent held no value under the POCSO Act.
- •The legal proceedings began with a complaint filed in March 2025 in Vadodara, involving testimony from 14 witnesses.
- •The court directed that Rs 45,000 from the fine imposed on the accused be given to the victim, though no separate compensation was awarded.
Key Questions Answered
The special POCSO court in Vadodara sentenced the accused young man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The court accepted that it was a love affair with mutual consent, but because the victim was under 18 years old and a minor at the time of the incident, consent held no legal validity under the POCSO Act.
The court refused to grant separate compensation since the girl left voluntarily, but directed that Rs 45,000 from the total fine imposed on the accused be given to the victim.
