20-year-old to die in jail for raping 15-year-old

Rajkot: A sessions court in Visavadar has sentenced a 20-year-old man, Shahrukh Sheikh, to rigorous life imprisonment for the rest of his natural life for the abduction and rape of a 16-year-old girl in a moving bus.On April 15, 2024, Sheikh, a resident of Mandiya village in Visavadar taluka, lured the 15-year-old girl away from her home. According to the victim's testimony, the two originally connected and communicated through Instagram and text messages. The accused convinced the minor to elope with him.The accused took the young girl from her village to Junagadh, where they boarded a private luxury sleeper bus bound for Ahmedabad. During the bus journey, Sheikh forced himself on the minor on a sleeper seat. The girl's father searched for her for two days and subsequently filed a complaint at Visavadar police station on April 17, 2024. The accused and the victim were in Ahmedabad for two days. The investigating cops tracked them down and brought them back from Ahmedabad.During the trial, the defence attempted to argue that the minor left her home voluntarily and that the physical relationship was consensual. However, the court vehemently rejected this defence. Relying on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and Supreme Court precedents, the court observed that the consent of a minor under 18 years of age is legally invalid. The prosecution, led by assistant public prosecutor, V N Madhak, built a case backed by the testimony of the victim, her father, the medical officer and investigating officials, coupled with medical and forensic evidence.Delivering the verdict on March 30, additional sessions Judge H V Joshi found Sheikh guilty under Sections 363, 366 and 376(3) of the IPC, and Sections 4 and 6 of the Pocso Act. Sheikh was sentenced to life imprisonment till his death, and a fine of Rs 70,000 was also imposed on him.