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.
A POCSO court in Assam's Dhubri district has sentenced Utpal Roy to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2023. The judge cited the 'rarest of rare' category for the capital punishment.
The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of a man sentenced to death for the repeated sexual assault of three minor girls. The apex court's decision comes after the Madras High Court confirmed his conviction and death penalty. The Supreme Court has sought reports from probation officers, jail authorities, and a psychological evaluation of the appellant, posting the matter for hearing after 20 weeks.
A Gurugram court has sentenced a man, Indrajeet alias Ashu, to 20 years imprisonment for the rape of a 17-year-old girl. The court also imposed significant fines under the POCSO Act and IPC sections. The case, which dates back to April 2023, involved a thorough investigation by Gurugram police, leading to the conviction.
A POCSO court in Assam's Dhubri district has sentenced Utpal Ray to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2023, terming the crime "rarest of rare". The convict also received life imprisonment for rape and other sentences for related offences.
A special court in Pune has sentenced 65-year-old Bhimrao Kamble to death for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a three-year-old girl in Nasrapur village. The victim's family expressed satisfaction with the verdict and called for its swift execution. The court termed the crime "rarest of the rare," delivering the sentence within 60 days of the incident.
A court in Bhadohi has sentenced Rajkamal alias Kariya to 20 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 1.10 lakh for the abduction and rape of a nine-year-old Dalit girl. The incident occurred on July 11, 2025, and the fine amount is directed towards the victim's medical treatment.
A Bahraich court has sentenced a young man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 54,000 in a rape case from four years ago. The convict, a juvenile at the time of the incident, was identified through DNA evidence after the victim became pregnant. He will be held at a 'Government Place of Safety' until he turns 21, then transferred to district jail.
A special POCSO court in Vadodara has sentenced five men to life imprisonment for the gang-rape of a minor girl during Navratri two years ago. The court described the crime as "most heinous" and ordered Rs 10 lakh compensation for the survivor, emphasising the seriousness of violence against women, especially during a religious festival.
A Fast-Track Special Court in Hoshiarpur has sentenced a 33-year-old migrant labourer, Nanke Yadav alias Radhe Sham, to death for the aggravated sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old boy. The court termed it a 'rarest of rare' case, with the death sentence subject to confirmation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
A Juvenile Justice Board in Bareilly has found a minor girl guilty of murdering her five-year-old brother. The boy was allegedly killed after he caught his sister in a compromising position with a man and threatened to tell their mother. The girl's alleged lover has already been sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the same case. The board will issue a separate order on the quantum of punishment for the juvenile.
The Rajasthan High Court has reserved its order on Asaram's appeal against his conviction and life sentence in a sexual assault case. The trial court sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment in 2018. The High Court conducted hearings in a time-bound manner following Supreme Court directions.
World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat announced that women wrestlers will appeal a Delhi court's decision to acquit former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case. Phogat expressed deep sadness over the verdict and alleged that Singh used his influence to intimidate complainants, but affirmed the wrestlers' resolve to continue their fight for justice.
The Allahabad high court has delivered a split verdict on the controversial practice of "bulldozer justice," involving the punitive demolition of properties linked to accused persons. Two judges, Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Siddharth Nandan, expressed differing views on whether a stay on demolitions can be issued, leading the matter to be referred to the Chief Justice for a third judge's opinion.
A special POCSO court in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, has convicted a school teacher of molesting female students and sentenced him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment.
The Supreme Court has ruled that an investigating agency must seek a magistrate's approval for re-arresting an individual if they were previously released due to a breach of constitutional rights, such as not being informed of arrest grounds or being detained beyond 24 hours. This judgment reinforces the importance of Articles 22(1) and 22(2) and introduces stricter accountability measures for police officers.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has stated his willingness to undergo a narco analysis test to help establish the truth in the sexual abuse case registered against him under the POCSO Act. He maintains his innocence and alleges the case is an attempt to defame him.
A 22-year-old man in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, has been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a minor in a swift trial under the POCSO Act.
World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat announced that women wrestlers will appeal a Delhi court's decision to acquit former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.
A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to five years in prison by a special POCSO court in Thane for sexually harassing and threatening a teenage girl after befriending her on social media while posing as a female.
The Supreme Court overturned a Delhi High Court order that had suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, instructing the High Court to reconsider the plea.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati addresses sexual abuse allegations, asserting his innocence and claiming the charges are fabricated. An FIR was lodged against him and his disciple following a court order.
A POCSO court in Odisha's Angul district has sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a 4-year-old girl. The accused, Babula Jena, was found guilty under the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The court directed Asaram to surrender in view of the conviction. He is currently out on temporary bail, which was extended by seven days on Monday.
A speech-and-hearing impaired man was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Gondia court for sexually assaulting a seven-and-half-year-old girl in May 2024.
A special POCSO court in Thane sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the sexual assault of a six-year-old girl in Palghar district, Maharashtra, in 2018, deeming the crime 'heinous'.
The Supreme Court has permitted the Unnao rape survivor to become a party in the CBI's petition challenging the suspension of Kuldeep Singh Sengar's life imprisonment, affirming the victim's right to be heard in the proceedings.
The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing on the CBI's petition challenging the suspension of Kuldeep Singh Sengar's life imprisonment in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
A court in Kollam, Kerala, has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the aggravated sexual assault and torture of a four-year-old girl, highlighting the severity of child abuse cases and the legal consequences.
The court took into account that the accused had previously been involved in another case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, advocate Jose said.
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Delhi high court's order suspending the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
The judge, however, ruled that there was a clear prima facie case under Section 354 of IPC for 'assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty".
The Supreme Court on Monday suggested that Parliament should seriously consider bringing an amendment to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for substituting the term 'child pornography' with 'child sexual exploitative and abuse material' with a view to reflect more accurately the reality of such offences.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside an order of the Calcutta high court in which it acquitted an accused in a sexual assault case and made 'objectionable' observations advising adolescent girls to 'control sexual urges'.
In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Monday held that watching and downloading child pornography are offences under the POCSO Act and the information technology law.
The observations came from a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala while reserving the verdict on an appeal filed by NGOs -- Just Rights for Children Alliance of Faridabad and New Delhi-based Bachpan Bachao Andolan -- challenging a Madras high court verdict.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih observed it was pained to say that some of the observations made in the high court order depicted total insensitiveness and an inhuman approach.
Bombay high court judge Justice Pushpa Ganediwala, who faced flak over a series of judgments that were deemed as controversial for the interpretation of what constitutes as 'sexual assault' under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, has resigned.
In a judgment passed on January 19, the Bombay high court has said groping a minor's breast without 'skin-to-skin contact' cannot be termed sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the Bombay high court verdict which had held that no offence of sexual assault under the POCSO Act is made out if there is no direct skin-to-skin contact between an accused and victim.
