A local court sentenced Vinod Kumar Verma to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment on Tuesday for kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl in 2022, marking a significant verdict in a case that shocked the region. Additional Session Judge Jasmine Sharma also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict, as confirmed by the Gurugram police.

The case began on February 18, 2022, when Bilaspur police received a report of the teenager’s kidnapping. A case was registered under sections 363 (kidnapping) and 366 (kidnapping to compel marriage or defilement) of the Indian Penal Code, prompting an immediate investigation. The victim was rescued days later, and her court statement revealed that Verma, a resident of Jugalpura village in Sikar, Rajasthan, had lured her under the pretense of marriage before sexually assaulting her.

Following her testimony, police added Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act to the FIR. Verma was arrested, remanded to judicial custody, and a comprehensive chargesheet was filed, supported by evidence and witness testimonies. The court’s ruling was based on this robust case presented by the prosecution.

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The verdict underscores the judiciary’s commitment to delivering justice in cases of crimes against minors, sending a strong message against such heinous acts.

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