12 February
Second Additional District and POCSO Special Court rules prosecution failed to prove charges in an abduction and rape case involving a minor girl
Mangaluru: The Second Additional District and POCSO Special Court in Mangaluru has acquitted a man who was accused of abducting and raping a minor girl, citing failure on the part of the prosecution to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The verdict was delivered by POCSO Court Judge Justice K.S. Manu, bringing an end to a case that had drawn serious attention due to the gravity of the allegations.
According to court records, the prosecution could not provide strong and reliable evidence to substantiate the allegations of rape and criminal intimidation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. As a result, the accused was acquitted of all charges.
Background of the Case and Allegations
As per the complaint, the incident allegedly occurred in the second week of July 2025, when the accused reportedly took the minor girl on his motorcycle from near the Mulki Bappanadu Temple in Dakshina Kannada district. It was alleged that he raped her in a forested area near Kaup Beach in Udupi district.
The complaint further stated that the accused had allegedly threatened to kill the girl if she disclosed the incident to her family members. Acting on the complaint, the Mulki police registered a case on July 23, 2025, and arrested the accused on the same day.
During the course of investigation, the victim was subjected to a medical examination, during which it was found that she was pregnant, a fact that added seriousness to the case and led to the filing of charges under stringent provisions of the POCSO Act.
Court Proceedings and Examination of Evidence
The police subsequently submitted a final chargesheet before the Second Additional District and POCSO Special Court in Mangaluru. The court conducted the trial on a priority basis, recording statements from the victim, her parents, and other witnesses.
In total, eight prosecution witnesses were examined, and 26 documents along with a mobile phone were produced as material evidence. The prosecution maintained that the offence of rape had taken place, and the victim and her parents supported this version during their testimony.
However, the court noted inconsistencies and shortcomings in the prosecution’s case, particularly regarding corroborative and forensic evidence. The absence of conclusive proof linking the accused directly to the crime played a crucial role in the court’s assessment.
Judgment and Legal Representation
After evaluating the oral and documentary evidence, the court concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. In the absence of strong, convincing evidence, Justice K.S. Manu acquitted the accused and pronounced the judgment in open court.
Advocate Sukesh Kumar Shetty appeared on behalf of the accused and argued that the evidence presented did not meet the legal threshold required for conviction under the POCSO Act.
