Kalaburagi POCSO court hands auto driver 20 years' RI for assaulting minor

A special court in Kalaburagi has sentenced an autorickshaw driver to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl, bringing the trial to a close with a conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The District Special POCSO Court (Fast Track Special Court-1), presided over by Judge S.L. Chavan, found the accused, Waseem Sheikh, guilty under Section 6 of the Act. The court imposed a fine of ₹35,000 on him. It concluded that the prosecution had established the charges beyond reasonable doubt after hearing arguments from both sides.

According to the case built by investigators, Sheikh came into contact with the survivor when she was a second-year pre-university student. He is said to have befriended her during her daily commute to college and obtained her phone number to remain in touch.

The prosecution's account states that the accused lured the girl to his residence in Rahmat Nagar on the pretext of marriage and sexually assaulted her. She was assaulted again at his house on March 15, 2025. Sheikh is also accused of giving her medication and of verbally abusing and threatening her after she blocked his phone number.

A complaint led to the registration of a case at the University Police Station. Police Inspector Susheel Kumar took up the investigation, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sub-Urban Sub-Division) D.G. Rajanna submitted the charge sheet to the court.

After assessing the evidence and witness statements, the court convicted Sheikh and handed down the sentence of rigorous imprisonment along with the fine. It further directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to pay ₹5 lakh as compensation to the survivor.

Special Public Prosecutor Shanthaveer B. Thuppad appeared for the prosecution.