A Palghar court has sentenced Madhu Dharma Govari to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor boy. The court rejected the defence's claim of improbability in a crowded locality, emphasizing that "bystander apathy" does not undermine a victim's testimony. Forensic evidence and the victim's credible account corroborated the conviction under POCSO Act and IPC.
Police in Siddipet district have arrested four men and apprehended three minors in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl over several months. The arrests followed a complaint lodged by the girl's mother, leading to charges under the POCSO Act.
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.
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 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.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that Muslim personal law, which recognises puberty as the age of marriage, cannot override the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which criminalise sexual relations with a child.
Nanded police in Maharashtra have filed a chargesheet within 24 hours in a molestation case involving a minor girl. A 20-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stalking, obstructing, and making inappropriate comments to the girl on Wednesday. The case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act.
'My daughter was raped and killed, but CBI and the double engine government failed to find any accused.'
A special court in Thane has acquitted a 56-year-old man accused in a child sexual assault case, citing significant failures by the prosecution, including the inability to establish the suspect's identity and lack of photographic evidence. The court also noted the victim's denial of the assault in court.
Bashir Usman Shaikh, the founder and principal of Adarsh International School in Latur, who was absconding after being accused of sexually harassing minor girl students, has been arrested by police. He was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the stringent POCSO Act on October 4.
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 men, Vishnu (36) and Vijayan (58), were arrested in Perumbavoor, Kochi, for allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting a minor girl. Vishnu, a bus conductor, reportedly befriended the girl and took her to Mamalakandam, where Vijayan allegedly confined her at his house, leading to the assault. Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and remanded the accused in judicial custody.
A 50-year-old man, Mahavir Yadav, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a 14-year-old Dalit girl in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh. The co-accused, Navi Chand Yadav, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The incident occurred on September 15, 2025, and the verdict was pronounced on Monday.
A court in Maharashtra's Palghar district has sentenced a 55-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting his seven-year-old daughter. The crime came to light in November 2020 after neighbours alerted an NGO. The court noted the man exploited his position of trust, making the child believe his actions were right.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain self-styled godman Asaram's plea challenging the Gujarat High Court's order denying him bail in the 2013 Gandhinagar rape case. Asaram, who is currently on parole granted by the Rajasthan High Court in another rape case, had sought bail to visit his ailing wife. The court noted his parole status and will hear his appeal against conviction in the Jodhpur case after his surrender on November 17.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a woman can be charged with gang rape under Section 376D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), stating there is no basis to restrict the term 'persons' in the law to only men.
A special court in Jalna, Maharashtra, has sentenced Faizan Ahmed Abbas Husain to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The court also ordered the Maharashtra government to provide Rs 50,000 compensation to the victim.
A school teacher in Jharkhand's Garhwa district was arrested on Thursday for allegedly abducting and sexually exploiting a minor Class 10 student. The FIR was lodged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act after villagers intercepted the teacher and student on Wednesday.
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.
The Supreme Court has granted the Centre a final opportunity to present measures taken to prevent the circulation of child sexual exploitation and abuse material on social media platforms, following a petition highlighting inconsistent compliance by intermediaries.
The pendency of rape cases in courts rose from 83 per cent in 2013 to 89 per cent in 2024, while the conviction rate fell from 27 per cent to 23 per cent in the same period.
The Supreme Court has issued comprehensive directives to the Delhi Police Commissioner to enhance safety for women and minor girls in Delhi-NCR. These measures include forming dedicated police teams, conducting vulnerability audits of public spaces, improving lighting and CCTV surveillance, and strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms. The court also sought reports on the functioning of fast-track courts, utilisation of sexual offender databases, and the Mission Shakti programme.
Delhi Police have arrested a 38-year-old man, Rinku alias Monu, who was a proclaimed offender in a rape and POCSO Act case. He had been evading court proceedings since 2024 and was apprehended following a tip-off.
A 38-year-old man from West Bengal was arrested in Gurugram for allegedly committing an obscene act against his 17-year-old stepdaughter. He was traced to Malda district after fleeing following the registration of an FIR under the POCSO Act.
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.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son, Bhageerath, has petitioned the Telangana High Court for anticipatory bail in a POCSO case involving allegations of sexual harassment of a minor. He has also filed a petition to quash the criminal case. The case was registered based on a complaint by the mother of the alleged victim.
Police in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district have arrested two youths, Joy Pal and Debabrata Mallick, for allegedly raping two girls, including a 13-year-old. The arrests followed a complaint after one victim went missing, and further investigation revealed a second victim. A case has been registered under the POCSO Act.
The Supreme Court has declared that children have a fundamental right to access and use the internet, directing the Centre to establish a national database for detecting and removing child sexually explicit visual content. The ruling, stemming from a plea by NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, emphasises the internet's value for learning and expression while acknowledging the need for safeguards like parental consent and a "child mode" for accounts, rather than blanket restrictions.
The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against 15 individuals in the Kishtwar minor's rape and death case. The chargesheet alleges a criminal conspiracy to conceal the sexual assault, intimidate the victim's family, and illegally terminate her advanced pregnancy. The 15-year-old tribal girl died on August 20 following an alleged abortion attempt after being repeatedly sexually assaulted by a teacher, resulting in pregnancy. Accused include the main perpetrator, health workers, and community elders involved in the cover-up and pressure tactics.
A Thane court acquitted a 27-year-old man in a kidnapping and rape case, citing the victim's adult status and voluntary accompaniment. The court emphasised the victim's capacity to make her own decisions, leading to the acquittal.
The Bombay High Court has referred to a larger bench the question of whether the state can deny furlough to prisoners convicted under special statutes like MCOCA and POCSO, citing potential violations of fundamental rights.
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been remanded to one-day police custody by a Delhi court judge, facing charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, criminal intimidation, and the POCSO Act following allegations of assault and online harassment.
As of December 2025, India had 880 Fast-Track Courts with 1.39 million pending cases, despite disposing of 1.33 million cases during the year.
The Uttarakhand High Court upheld a 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence for a man convicted of raping a minor girl under the POCSO Act, dismissing his appeal and affirming the evidentiary value of school records for age determination.
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.
The Supreme Court has permitted the filing of a special investigation team (SIT) probe report before a Gurugram court regarding the rape of a three-year-old girl. The court is also considering the role of doctors and compensation for the victim.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son, Bageerath, has been arrested in connection with a Pocso case. The arrest follows a complaint alleging sexual harassment of a minor. The case has sparked political reactions, with calls for the minister's removal to ensure a fair investigation.
The Telangana High Court has denied interim protection from arrest to Bageerath, son of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a POCSO case. The court will issue orders on the anticipatory bail petition at a later date.
BRS Working President K T Rama Rao has called for the immediate removal of Bandi Sanjay Kumar from the union cabinet following the arrest of his son, Bageerath, in a POCSO case, arguing that the minister's continuation in office could hinder a fair and impartial investigation.
A 19-year-old man was arrested in Chennai for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl he befriended on social media. Police acted swiftly on the mother's complaint. The article also mentions a separate arrest of a school principal under the POCSO Act and clarifies another ongoing investigation.
