POCSO Court, Varanasi Awards Life Imprisonment in Child Sexual Abuse Case
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
The Special Court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has convicted accused Ravi Kumar Patel and sentenced him to life imprisonment, along with a fine of ₹2,75,000, for offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Information Technology Act.
The conviction encompasses grave offences, including rape, aggravated penetrative sexual assault, use of a child for pornographic purposes, storage of child pornographic material, criminal conspiracy, and other allied offences.
The case was registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in June 2022 on allegations relating to the collection, transmission, and publication of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in electronic form. During the course of the investigation, the agency uncovered evidence revealing that the accused had committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault upon a minor child.
The victim was immediately rescued and provided necessary protection.
The CBI carried out a meticulous and comprehensive investigation, assembling cogent scientific, documentary, and oral evidence that culminated in a robust prosecution.
The investigation was conducted in close coordination with forensic specialists, medical experts dealing with child sexual abuse cases, and child protection authorities.
Throughout the investigative process, the agency adopted a victim-centric approach, ensuring that the minor’s statements were recorded with due sensitivity while safeguarding the child’s emotional well-being through counselling and appropriate support mechanisms.
Upon completion of the investigation, the CBI filed its chargesheet against accused Ravi Kumar Patel on 6 September 2022.
The trial court framed charges on 23 March 2023, following which the prosecution led evidence in support of the charges.
After a full-fledged trial and appreciation of the evidence on record, the Hon’ble POCSO Court found the accused guilty and awarded the sentence of life imprisonment together with a fine of ₹2,75,000, holding him accountable for the offences established against him.
The conviction marks another significant milestone in the criminal justice system’s efforts to combat child sexual abuse and online child exploitation.
Reaffirming its institutional commitment, the CBI stated that it remains steadfast in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting offences involving child sexual abuse and exploitation, while continuing to accord the highest priority to such cases in furtherance of its mandate to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of children.
