The Supreme Court has acquitted a man previously convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl with intellectual disability. The apex court cited "woefully short" evidence, including the mother's "unnatural conduct," delayed FIR, and the victim's failure to identify the accused, as reasons for overturning the conviction and setting aside judgments from the Meghalaya High Court and a trial court.
The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of a man convicted of sexually assaulting and strangling his six-year-old step-daughter to life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life. The court affirmed his conviction but cited mitigating circumstances and the state's failure to exclude the possibility of his reformation, while also highlighting issues with the trial court's sentencing procedure.
Two police teams have been conducting the search to collect evidence at his apartment in Kunathurmedu since morning, officials said.
A POCSO court in Bhubaneswar has sentenced Dillip Bhoi to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping an eight-year-old girl near her school last year. The court also imposed a fine and ordered compensation for the victim.
In a high-profile POCSO case, Chennai police have discovered more minor victims of sexual harassment allegedly by granite businessman R Veeramani, with investigators suspecting the abuse spans over two decades. Additional victims' statements have been recorded, and the case involves charges under POCSO, IT, and SC/ST Acts.
Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott has been convicted of sexually abusing two children several decades ago following a trial in a Scottish court, with sentencing scheduled for next month.
A government school teacher in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district has been dismissed from service following his alleged involvement in the rape and subsequent death of a 15-year-old girl. The dismissal was enacted under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution, with authorities citing the case as "rarest of the rare."
The girl had not attended school from January 3, following which an inquiry was done by the school in person visiting her home.
The Badlapur school, where two young girls were allegedly sexually abused, preferred to cover up the crime instead of helping their parents file a police complaint, said Susieben Shah, chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, on Wednesday.
Govt said these amendments are aimed at discouraging the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent.
A Fast Track Court in Surajpur, Chhattisgarh, has sentenced three men to death and one to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a policeman's wife and their 11-year-old daughter in 2024, a case that also involved sexual assault.
A 15-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district allegedly died following an abortion attempt after being repeatedly raped by a school teacher, leading to the arrest of the teacher and his brother.
A seven-year-old girl who went missing three days ago in Chhattisgarh's Korba district was found raped and murdered. Police arrested a 42-year-old man after a sniffer dog tracked him down. The accused confessed to the crime, and further investigation is ongoing.
A special POCSO court in Thane has convicted a 20-year-old man for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, sentencing him to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The court relied heavily on the victim's "clear and cogent" testimony and rejected the plea for probation, citing the fear and insecurity caused by the accused's actions.
The Central Crime Branch in Chennai has uncovered evidence suggesting that granite businessman R Veeramani's alleged sexual harassment of minors may span over two decades, predating 2003. The investigation, which began with a 2019 video clip, has identified multiple survivors, leading to charges under the POCSO Act, IT Act, and SC/ST Act against Veeramani and two accomplices. The Child Welfare Committee is also monitoring the case for further action.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan will take up the matter for hearing on Thursday.
The Supreme Court has issued a landmark directive against immediate arrests in Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases where the accused is a parent or family member living with the child, and a matrimonial dispute exists. The ruling mandates psychological evaluation of the child by experts before police or courts form an opinion to arrest, aiming to prevent the misuse of the law in estranged couple cases.
A man has been arrested in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl. The accused, Pramanand Dhruv, was known to the victim's family and was apprehended after the girl's father filed a complaint. He faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act.
During the probe, it was found that Ram Bhawan, a resident of Naraini town in Banda district, had been living in a rented room in Chitrakoot district where the offences were committed, with his wife allegedly assisting him, the agency said.
The Delhi government is considering taking over the management of a private school in Janakpuri following allegations of a sexual assault on a three-year-old girl. The Directorate of Education issued a show-cause notice to the school, citing serious lapses in child safety and compliance with norms, which remains unanswered.
The Supreme Court has directed media outlets, journalists, and publishing platforms to practice responsible, empathetic, and restrained journalism when reporting sexual offences. The court highlighted that sensationalist headlines and graphic descriptions cause secondary trauma to victims and their families, urging media to prioritise dignity, factual accuracy, and institutional accountability.
The Supreme Court has denied interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting a minor. While rejecting his plea for bail on health grounds for now, the court permitted him to engage a trained caretaker for round-the-clock assistance. The court noted that Asaram's counsel had previously moved for parole, and his health condition will be monitored.
A Thane court has acquitted a 35-year-old man accused of rape under the pretext of marriage, ruling that the relationship was consensual. The court cited a Supreme Court precedent, noting that a promise of marriage made after the first sexual encounter does not constitute a false promise.
The convicted person, who sexually assaulted a minor girl in 2015, was sentenced to 10 years of rigourous imprisonment by a Special Judge at Eluru in West Godavari district in 2016, including a penalty of Rs 5,000 levied on him.
Police in Coimbatore have filed an 819-page chargesheet against two men, K Karthi and R Mohan, in connection with the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Sulur. The investigation was completed in a record 18 days, relying on scientific evidence and eyewitness testimonies, and the prosecution expects an expedited trial.
Amidst police security and confusion, classes resumed on Monday at the private school in Bangalore where a three-and-a-half-year-old girl student was sexually abused last week.
The Delhi Police have appealed to the Delhi High Court to cancel the bail granted to a teacher in a case involving the alleged rape of a three-year-old girl at a private school in Janakpuri, west Delhi. The court has also granted time for the main accused to respond to the police's plea against his bail.
Assam's Juvenile Justice Board has ruled that a 17-year-old boy, accused in the alleged rape and murder of a girl in Hailakandi district, will be tried as an adult. The decision was based on the heinous nature of the crime, psychological assessments, and other reports. The incident, which occurred on August 1, led to widespread protests and a chargesheet was filed against five accused, including the juvenile.
Groping a minor's breast without 'skin to skin contact' cannot be termed as sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Bombay high court has said.
The Supreme Court was informed that AIIMS experts have concluded self-styled godman Asaram does not require hospitalisation but needs round-the-clock medical assistance, as he seeks interim bail on health grounds.
This week's OTT releases feature a diverse range of films and series, including Huma Qureshi's Baby Do Die Do, Aneet Padda's Hunkaar: The Roar, Parineeti Chopra's OTT debut in Shaque: Trust No One, Nayanthara's romcom Hi, and the animated Toy Story 5.
A Spanish prosecutor is seeking a prison term of nine years for former Barcelona and Brazil soccer player Dani Alves who is due to stand trial on charges of sexual assault against a woman.
The US on Monday announced that it had revoked more than 1.75 lakh visas during President Donald Trump's tenure for a range of crimes from reckless driving to sexual assault.
Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleges the BJP filed an FIR against him for naming a private school in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a three-year-old girl. He claims the FIR is an attempt to silence him and suppress the case due to the school's alleged political connections.
"The act of pressing of the breast of the child aged 12 years, in the absence of any specific detail as to whether the top was removed or whether he inserted his hand inside top and pressed her breast, would not fall in the definition of 'sexual assault'. It would certainly fall within the definition of the offence under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code," it said.
The Bombay High Court has granted custody of a 12-year-old girl to her mother, who is accused of her husband's murder. The court cited the child's best interest, especially after allegations of sexual assault by her paternal uncle while she was in the care of paternal relatives. The girl is also a key witness in her father's murder case.
A fast-track court in Nashik, Maharashtra, has sentenced Vijay Sanjay Khairnar to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl late last year. The court termed the gruesome crime "rarest of the rare" and also ordered Rs 10 lakh financial assistance for the victim's family. The prosecution, led by Ujwal Nikam, relied on circumstantial evidence and witness testimonies to secure the conviction.
A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly abducting and raping a five-year-old girl. The incident occurred when the girl was with her grandfather, and the accused fled with her on a motorcycle. Police rescued the girl and confirmed sexual assault, subsequently arresting the accused and seizing his vehicle.
The father of the six-year-old boy, who was found dead in Ryan International School, today alleged that he was sexually assaulted before being done to death.
The accused has been apprehended, a senior police officer said.
