Jailed for having sex with minor

HT, 17 June 2016, DARJEELING: A special court in Darjeeling convicted a 20-yearold man to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for having physical relation with a minor girl. She was lured into the relationship with false promise of marriage. 

The convict was charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO). Anum Mukherjee, Special Judge, pronounced Ajit Mukherjee guilty and sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000 in default of which an addition rigorous imprisonment of two months. 

The incident occurred in the plains of the Darjeeling district. 

On March 20, 2014, Ajit had lured his 14-year-old tenant with promises of marrying her and took her to a hotel. He then spent the night with her. The following morning he left her. 

The parents of the victim searched for her throughout the night. 

Finally, when she was found and she narrated her tale, the parents lodged an FIR against Ajit. Ajit was arrested on March 22 but was later released on bail on April 23. 

“The very fact that the convict had physical relationship with a minor is in itself an offence. Even if he would have married her, the marriage would have been illegal as she is a minor,” said Pranay Rai, Public Prosecutor, Darjeeling.