Mangaluru: 21-year-old rickshaw driver sentenced to 20 years’ RI for rape, impregnation of minor
Mangaluru: The Additional District and Sessions Court has sentenced a youngster found guilty of raping and impregnating a minor girl after promising to marry her to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI).
Fast Track Special Court Judge Manu KS who heard the case on Tuesday sentenced the accused Nagaraj Shivappaduragannavar (21), a native of Bagalkot working as an auto rickshaw driver in Mangaluru.
The accused allegedly used to visit the girl at her house often as their mothers were associates. He is learned to have also taken the girl to his rented house in Attavar between February 25 and March 13, 2025, and raped her multiple times there, as a result of which, the girl turned pregnant.
A complaint was filed in this regard with the Women Police Station.
The judge sentenced Shivappaduragannavar to 20 years of RI under POCSO Act Section 6 along with a fine of Rs 40,000. If the accused fails to pay the fine, he would be required to undergo four additional months of imprisonment and, as per BNS Section 69, 5 years of imprisonment as well as pay a fine of Rs 10,000. The judge added that, in case the accused fails to pay the fine, he would be retained in prison for one month additionally.
He directed the District Legal Services Authority to hand over the fine amount paid by the accused along with Rs 6.5 lakh as relief to the victim.
Women Police Station officer Balakrishna HN investigated the case and submitted the charge-sheet before the court.
POCSO Special Government Prosecutor Sahana Devi Boloor represented the government in court.
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Rahul Gandhi lays foundation stone for 100 houses for landslide victims in Wayanad
Wayanad (Kerala) (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday laid the foundation stone for 100 houses to be constructed by the party for victims of the 2024 landslide here.
Congress is constructing 100 houses, each measuring 1,100 sq ft and 8 cents of land.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha assured the affected families that he and his family would always stand with those who had lost everything in the tragedy.
He recalled witnessing two major landslides and how people responded to them.
“You have lost a lot, but you have not lost your spirit. You never lost your courage. Most importantly, you did not lose your compassion,” Gandhi said.
Rahul said that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had pointed out alleged delays in the process of constructing houses for the victims.
“There were complexities related to permissions, land and other issues. Now, I hope it will be completed soon,” he said.
He described the ceremony as a "symbol and a message" to the affected families.
“In this process of recovery and healing, we are with you. We will stand with you whenever you need us,” he said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she had witnessed the hardship of people who lost everything, including their families.
She mentioned Anyan and Hanni, who lost their farms and family members in the landslide.
“We have tried our best to raise your voice in Parliament again and again. All our MPs met the Home Minister to demand that it be declared a national disaster. We wrote to the Prime Minister and held protests outside Parliament,” she said.
She said what struck her most after the tragedy was the courage of the people.
“The way you all stood together, no matter what religion or section you belong to, you gave love and courage when it mattered most,” she said.
She said she was not the MP when the tragedy struck, but had since become a daughter, sister and part of the family.
Vadra said all political parties had contributed to the rehabilitation process.
As the people's struggle continues, the party would stand with them to overcome it, she added.
Both leaders also distributed Rs 5 lakh each to 40 people who lost their shops in the landslide.
Senior Congress and UDF leaders were present at the event.
