School principal gets 20-year jail for physically exploiting minor

Kanpur: Additional special judge Pocso Act court/additional sessions judge Surendra Pal Singh on Friday sentenced accused Awadhesh Singh to 20 years rigorous imprisonment and with a fine of Rs 60,000 for physically exploiting a minor girl.The court in its order observed that the accused had to undergo another six-month jail term if he failed to pay the fine and ordered to pay Rs 50,000 to the victim as compensation. The period which the accused had passed in jail during the trial would be adjusted in the final sentence.According to special prosecutor Bhawana Gupta, the victim in the FIR lodged on September 5, 2020 alleged that she had passed her intermediate examination from a college in Naubasta. The accused, who was principal of the school, did not deliver her high school and intermediate examination marksheets on the pretext that a huge sum as fee was pending. He offered her to teach lower classes of the school after which he would not only settle all her dues but also provide admission in a degree college. Due to pressure, she accepted his offer but just after fifteen days, he physically exploited her and tried to repeat the act again.The police after investigation filed a chargesheet against the accused, the prosecutor added. TNN