Kendrapada Court Sentences Man to 20 Years for Kidnapping and Raping Minor

On October 31, 2025, a Kendrapada court delivered a significant verdict, sentencing a 28-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the heinous crimes of kidnapping and raping a 16-year-old girl in 2021. The additional district-cum-special Pocso court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the convict, and in case of non-payment, his sentence will be extended by an additional year.

According to the prosecution, the mother of the survivor, who is now 20 years old, had lodged a police complaint on October 31, 2021, alleging that her daughter was kidnapped a day earlier by a neighbor while she was alone at home. Acting on the FIR, the police arrested the accused on November 25, 2021, from a house near the village.

The judge, Pragyan Paramita Roul, convicted the man under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Pocso Act. "The judgment was based on the testimony of 17 witnesses, including the survivor, and medical evidence," said Manoj Kumar Sahu, the special public prosecutor.

This ruling serves as a stark reminder of the need for swift and decisive action against such heinous crimes, ensuring that justice is served and the rights of the vulnerable are protected.