A Special Court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has sentenced Nabam Sanjay to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl below the age of 12, concluding a four-year-long trial stemming from an incident reported in the Itanagar Capital Region in 2022.
Special Judge (POCSO), Yupia, Hirendra Kashyap, delivered the verdict, holding the accused guilty under Section 376AB of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, both dealing with aggravated sexual offences against children under 12. The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000, with an additional two months of simple imprisonment in default of payment.
The case originated from an FIR lodged by the victim’s mother at the Itanagar Women Police Station on March 7, 2022. The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Kagam Bagra, stated that the accused, known to the family, entered the victim’s rented residence at Chimpu on March 6, 2022, when she was alone, and sexually assaulted her.
The incident came to light when the mother noticed blood-stained clothes and bedsheets, later discovering incriminating WhatsApp conversations between the accused and the victim. Following questioning, the child disclosed the assault.
Police registered the case, medically examined the victim, and recorded her statement before a magistrate. The accused was later tracked to a hotel in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district, and arrested.
During the trial, eight witnesses, including the victim, her mother, the investigating officer, and the doctor, testified. The prosecution relied on medical findings, documentary evidence of the victim’s age, electronic communications, and witness statements.
The defence claimed alibi, suggesting the accused was at a picnic, and alleged personal disputes with the victim’s mother. However, the court rejected these arguments, ruling that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court emphasized that the victim’s testimony was consistent, credible, and corroborated by other evidence, and confirmed that she was below 12 years of age at the time of the offence.
