Mangaluru: In a case where a minor girl was kidnapped under the pretext of love and sexually assaulted, the additional district and sessions FTSC-II (Pocso) court found the accused guilty and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. Mahesh Madara, 20, a resident of Hole Munnuru in Rona taluk of Gadag district, was convicted.The survivor, a minor girl, was living with her parents in a rented house on the outskirts of the city and was working as a domestic help. Mahesh Madara also lived in the neighbouring house. They became acquainted and fell in love. Upon learning of this, her parents advised her and distanced her from him, even making her quit her job. Insisting that she wanted to work, she rejoined her job on May 14, 2025. On May 19, while she was working at a house, Mahesh called her, threatening and ordering her to come immediately so they could go somewhere else, and warning that if she did not come, he would kill her parents and himself.He then took her to a place on the city outskirts, where they stayed, and he sexually assaulted her against her will. On the morning of May 20, they went to Ballari by bus and searched for a rental house. When they could not find one, they stayed in an abandoned house in Nagalakere. There, on May 22, he sexually assaulted her multiple times.Based on a complaint, Mangaluru South police registered a case, and both of them were traced. Later, a case was registered against Mahesh Madara under Sections of the BNS and Pocso Act. The then PSI Rekha R completed the investigation, and inspector Gururaj submitted the chargesheet to the court.The judge, Maanu KS, conducted the trial and found Mahesh Madara guilty of the offences punishable under Sections 65(1), 137(2) of the BNS and Section 6 of the Pocso Act. He was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, and a fine of Rs 30,000 was imposed. In default, he would serve an additional three months of simple imprisonment. For the kidnapping, he was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000, with an additional one month of simple imprisonment in default. The total fine of Rs 35,000 is to be given to the survivor. Additionally, the District Legal Services Authority is directed to pay the survivor compensation of Rs 3.6 lakh. Special public prosecutor Sahana Devi Boloor argued on behalf of the prosecution.
