A special court in Vapi established under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Monday convicted a 25-year-old man for raping a minor girl and awarded him life imprisonment.

In just nine days, police had submitted a chargesheet and, the judgment was delivered in six months. This is the first conviction of life imprisonment in a case registered under BNS in Valsad district. The court also ordered that the victim’s family should be handed Rs 6 lakh as compensation.

Meanwhile, state Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi congratulated Valsad police for ensuring a speedy trial that led to the conviction of the accused. In a post on X, Sanghavi said, “Historic verdict in Valsad POCSO case. Last August a horrific crime was committed on a 3 year old girl in Valsad. Within an hour, police arrested the accused, and a chargesheet was filed within 9 days. The Fast Track Court treated this case with utmost priority, delivering a historic verdict within 6 months – life imprisonment until death and a fine of Rs 50,000. Today, justice has been served to the daughter and her family, strengthening the nation’s faith in our judiciary. Grateful to the sensitive Fast Track Court and congratulations to all the officials involved in this case.”