look news india
Bhopal/Special correspondent. The judiciary has given a tough and historic verdict in the highly publicized and soul-shattering case of sexual exploitation of minor girls, consumption of illegal drugs and organized human trafficking in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. The special POCSO court of Bhopal has sentenced the former owner of a local newspaper and the main culprit to 10 separate life sentences. Along with this, the court has also imposed a huge financial fine of Rs 77.64 lakh on the culprit. The court, without showing any leniency, has awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and fine to the female associate who supported him in this entire misdeed. This harsh decision of the court against this gang, which makes minor girls victims of their lust under the cover of media and influence, is being seen as an example for the safety of women and children in the state.
The roots of this sensational case were exposed in July 2020, when Bhopal Police safely rescued five minor girls roaming in suspicious condition in the Ratibad area of the city late at night. The ordeal narrated by the girls during interrogation had shocked the police administration and the civilized society. Investigation revealed that the guilty person used to show himself great influence in the administrative and social circles of the city under the guise of an evening daily newspaper. Using this influence, he used to trap the economically weak, needy and slum-dwelling girls. Girls were lured into getting good jobs, modeling, working in newspapers and a life of luxury. After this, he was invited to the flats and penthouses in posh areas of Bhopal like Shyamala Hills and Shahpura on the pretext of late-night parties. There, minors were given alcohol and other intoxicants and then they were brutally tortured.
The special court also considered the role of Sweety Vishwakarma, a key associate of the main culprit, in this heinous crime network as extremely dangerous and unforgivable. According to the charge sheet presented by the investigating agencies, Sweety was the main link who lured innocent girls into the clutches of the culprit. She presented herself as an elder sister or well-wisher and lured girls from poor families to parties with dreams of becoming rich. When the girls got stuck in the swamp, it was the job of this aide to blackmail them, threaten them and put pressure on them not to complain to anyone outside. The court found Sweety guilty of human trafficking (Section 370), conspiracy and related sections of the POCSO Act and sentenced her to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court made it clear in its remarks that the act of being a woman and pushing other innocent girls to hell cannot be worthy of mercy under any circumstances.
The court did not just limit itself to stringent jail sentences but also issued stringent financial directions for mental, physical and social rehabilitation of the victims. The huge fine of Rs 77.64 lakh imposed on the main culprit will be brought into recovery process as per law. To recover this fine, the administration has been given powers to auction the seized properties of the convict and recover the amount from the bank accounts. The court has ordered that a major part of the amount received from the fine will be provided to the victim girls as compensation and rehabilitation assistance. To compensate for the deep mental trauma that minor girls have had to go through over the years, this amount will be spent through the Government Trust or District Legal Services Authority for their secure future, higher education and self-reliance.
Considering the sensitivity of the case and the political and influential connections of the accused, Madhya Pradesh Police had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) at that time. As soon as the statements of the girls were recorded and the FIR was registered, the accused absconded from the capital. The police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh on the accused. With the help of technical surveillance and intelligence sources, a special team of police chased the accused and finally arrested him from a hotel in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. During the investigation, the police raided several locations of the accused and recovered digital evidence, CCTV footage, foreign liquor, expensive cars and many objectionable materials. The Municipal Corporation and the District Administration also took prompt action and demolished the illegal marriage garden, restaurant and illegal constructions of the accused by running bulldozers on them. The prosecution presented dozens of witnesses, forensic reports and medical evidence in the court so strongly that all the arguments of the defense collapsed.
Commenting on this historic decision, legal experts and child rights activists said that this decision is a big milestone for the entire country. Many times, criminals adopt the illusion of escaping from the grip of law by taking the name of media, press and newspapers. But this judgment has proved that no matter how old the crime is and no matter how resourceful or influential the criminal is, no one can be above the law on the scales of justice. The basic objective of the POCSO Act 2012 is to give prompt and exemplary punishment without any delay in sexual crimes committed against innocent people. This decision of Bhopal Court is an open lesson for all those criminals who dare to bargain for innocence. The families of the victims also welcomed the verdict with tears in their eyes outside the court, saying that even though the wounds of their daughters will not heal for the rest of their lives, this justice of the court has kept their faith in the law alive forever.