Vizag: 73YO gets 20 years rigorous imprisonment for raping 9YO

Visakhapatnam: A special POCSO court in Vizag has sentenced a 73-year-old-man to 20 years in jail for repeatedly raping a nine-year-old girl. The court also ordered for the compensation of Rs four lakh to the victim.

Police said that the man lured a Class-III student with mobile games and took her to his home, where he forced her to watch porn and then raped her. He raped her for over five months and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incident to anyone.

Police said the girl was living with her mother. The rapist too was putting up in the same locality.

The heinous crime came to light on March 23, 2022, when the victim complained of severe stomach pain and was hospitalized. The girl narrated the entire episode to her mother.

Based on the complaint from the victim's mother, Arilova police registered a case against the accused Kolati Balayogi under section 376, 354 (a), and 506 of IPC and POCSO-Act-2012. Police nabbed the accused and transferred the case to the Disha police station.

Disha police led by ACP Dr. G Prem Kajal completed the investigation and filed the charge sheet. "POCSO judge K Rama Srinivas awarded 20 years rigorous imprisonment to the accused and slapped a fine of Rs1,000," said Special Public Prosecutor Karanam Krishna.

City police said top priority has been given to the safety and security of women and girls and worked hard in arresting the accused and filing a charge sheet within the stipulated time. City police chief Ch Srikanth appreciated the police team and the public prosecutor K Krishna for rendering justice to the victim.