Conviction rate under SC/ST, POCSO Acts just 18% across Indore district

Indore: The conviction rate in cases registered under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and POCSO Act have remained at around 18.50% in the district last year.
The district witnessed conviction in just nine cases registered under SC/ST Act and in 54 cases under POCSO Act between Jan1 and Dec 31. The year saw 48 cases registered under SC/ST Act and 285 under POCSO Act complete the trial, as per the figures from district prosecution office.
“In most of the cases related to SC/ST and POCSO Acts, the accused were acquitted as the key witnesses turned hostile,” district prosecution officer Sanjeev Srivastava told TOI.“The court under CrPC after examination of a key witness, who had turned hostile, acquitted the accused and didn’t proceed further in the case,” Srivastava said. In other sections, except for crimes under the minor section, the conviction rate remained less than 50% in the district.The conviction rate in cases related to Indian Penal Code, which had completed trial last year remained at 41.27%, 23.32% in case of sessions court matters and 48.36% under NDPS Act. Only cases under the minor section reported 94.83% conviction rate last year in the district. The trial was completed in 11,641 cases last year and conviction was witnessed in 7425 cases.