A Karnataka fast-track court has sentenced a man to death for indulging into unnatural sex with a one-year-old baby boy and murdering him in 2015. The convict hails from the Karimani slum area in Yeshavantpur and was identified as Murthy.
Judge KN Roopa pronounced the death penalty judgement to Murthy for committing unnatural sexual act with the boy and killing him. The death sentence was given under sections 302 of IPC (murder), and life imprisonment under Section 377 of IPC (unnatural sexual act) and slapped a fine of Rs. 50,000 on the convict.
Murthy was also sentenced to life imprisonment under the POCSO Act.
The court has also directed the Bengaluru City District Legal Services Authority to pay a compensation of Rs 5lakh to the bereaved family of the boy.
The trial court noted that it has been 10 years since the POCSO Act came into force. However, such criminal acts have not decreased but only increasing day by day.
According to prosecution, the accused and the victim's father were known to each other. On September 12, 2015, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the father of the child entrusted the accused with the task of taking care of his son as he had some urgent work to attend to.
Later, the accused took the child to a deserted area near Yeshavantpur and committed the offence.
It was after the child cried that the accused got scared and murdered the child. The police investigated the case and submitted the charge sheet to the court.
A fast-track court in Mahabubabad on September 9 had sentenced a 41-year-old man to 20 years in prison for raping a minor girl in 2015.
A fine of Rs 2000 was also imposed on him.
(With Imputs From PTI)