Ahmedabad: A special Pocso court in Ahmedabad on Tuesday sentenced a 36-year-old man to life imprisonment till his last breath for raping an 18-month-old baby girl. The court also directed that the victim be paid compensation of Rs 10 lakh.The case dates back to Feb 12, 2024, when the Vadaj police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father. According to the complaint, the accused, Jay Panchanan Haldar, lured the toddler by offering her a packet of biscuits after finding her alone before sexually assaulting her.Haldar was arrested soon after the incident and charged under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. During the trial, the prosecution examined 19 witnesses and produced 60 documentary exhibits to establish the charges against the accused.Pronouncing the sentence, Special Pocso Judge M P Mehta stated, “This case, involving the rape of a very young girl, is deeply condemnable. The child was as delicate and vulnerable like a tender sapling, and taking advantage of her isolation was a heinous act. This incident serves as a stark warning to society. To prevent such crimes from occurring, it is the duty of parents, the police, authorities, society and the courts to take all necessary measures.“The prosecution sought the death penalty, arguing that the case fell within the “rarest of rare” category. However, the court held that while the offence was of the gravest nature, it did not meet the legal threshold for capital punishment. Instead, it awarded Haldar life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life, describing it as the maximum appropriate sentence under the circumstances. In addition to the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1.1 lakh on the convict.
