Mangaluru: The Additional District and Sessions Court, FTSC-2 POCSO Special Court, Judge Manu K. S., on Wednesday sentenced accused K.S. Keshav Poojary (43) to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl in Kalkaje Dondole, Dharmasthala village, Belthangady. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 55,000 on the accused.

According to sources, the accused, K.S. Keshav Poojary, was a neighbor of the victim and frequently visited her house. He raped the girl despite her objections when nobody was at the house. Later, the girl's mother noticed swelling in her daughter's leg and took her to the hospital, accompanied by the accused. During the medical examination, it was discovered that the girl was five months pregnant.

The accused immediately pressured the girl to conceal his identity and instructed her to name someone else as the perpetrator. Fearing his threats, the girl initially provided a false name.

However, after receiving counseling and regaining her courage, she revealed that Keshav Poojary was responsible for her pregnancy. Based on her statement, the Dharmasthala police arrested the accused. Police Inspector Nagesh K. filed a charge sheet against him.

Although the girl underwent an abortion, DNA testing of the fetal material, along with blood samples from the girl and the accused, confirmed that Keshav Poojary was the biological father.

The trial judge sentenced Keshav Poojary to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 50,000 under Sections 376(2)(n), 376(3), and section 6 of the POCSO Act for the rape.

Additionally, he was sentenced to three months of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5,000 under Section 506 for criminal intimidation. The court ordered the accused to pay a total of Rs. 55,000 to the victim. Furthermore, the District Legal Services Authority was directed to provide additional compensation of Rs. 6,45,000 to the girl under the Victims' Compensation Scheme.

Special Public Prosecutor K. Badrinath Nayari represented the government in the case.

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Singapore (PTI): Singapore’s Indian-origin Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh was found guilty on Monday of giving false testimony to a parliamentary committee, a verdict that could see him disqualified from Parliament and contesting a general election this year.

In the verdict delivered in the State Courts, Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan convicted Singh of the two charges against him.

The charges against Singh relate to his handling of Raeesah Khan, a former lawmaker from his party, who lied to Parliament in a separate case.

Singh, 48, was accused of wilfully giving two false answers to the Committee of Privileges (COP) during its inquiry into Khan's case on December 10 and December 15, 2021.

The case stems from Singh’s handling of Khan’s false claim in Parliament about accompanying a sexual assault victim to the police station.

Singh faces up to three years in jail, a fine of up to SGD7,000 (USD 5,290), or both for each charge.

Singh’s trial began four months ago.

Politically, the conviction could disqualify Singh from his parliamentary seat and rule out his standing in the next general election which must be called by November 2025.

"Any claim he made to the COP to the contrary was a lie he wilfully told," said Judge Tan.

The sentencing in the case will be announced later in the day.