Four convicted in abduction & Pocso case in Nashik

Nashik: The district and sessions court in Nashik convicted four people in an abduction case under relevant sections of the IPC, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage on Friday, and imposed a combined fine of over Rs 2.9 lakh.A minor girl, about 16 years old, had gone missing from a locality in the Panchavati area. On the complaint of her relative, the Panchavati police registered a case of abduction on June 1, 2023. During the investigation, the police found that three women, including one who lived near the victim's house, had taken the girl to Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, where she was sold to another man with the help of agents. The man to whom the girl was sold married her, despite knowing she was underage.After the case was registered, the police traced the girl within a few weeks. Eight people were named as accused for abduction, rape and other offences under Pocso and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The case was investigated by sub-inspector Dhanashree Patil, then attached to Panchavati police station.Except for a woman, who was granted bail, and one accused, who could not be traced, the remaining six accused had stayed in judicial custody since their arrest.The case was heard in the court of district and sessions judge P V Ghule. During the hearings, judge Ghule examined the statements of the complainant and other witnesses and the circumstantial evidence submitted by the investigating officer, and found four accused guilty, while three were acquitted due to lack of evidence of their involvement.Those convicted have been identified as Priyanka Patil (28) of Ozar, Niphad, Surekhabai Bhil (43) of Shirpur, Dhule, Dinesh Rathod (25) of MP, who married the girl, and Kajal Gaikwad (24) of the Panchavati area in Nashik city.Advocate Leena Chavan, one of the assistant public prosecutors in the case, said Priyanka Patil and Surekhabai Bhil were convicted for offences punishable under sections 363 (kidnapping), 34 (common intention), 366(A) (procuration of minor girl), 370 (trafficking), 370(A) (exploitation of trafficked person) of the IPC, and were awarded rigorous imprisonment ranging from seven to 10 years and a combined fine of Rs 1 lakh.Kajal Gaikwad was sentenced to 10 years of rigourous for offences punishable under sections 363 and 34 of the IPC and fined Rs 15,000, while Dinesh Rathod of Madhya Pradesh was awarded seven years of RI under section 376 (rape) of the IPC and 10 years of RI under the Pocso Act and fined Rs 50,000.The convicts will serve all sentences concurrently.