Mangaluru's 7th Additional District and Sessions Court, on October 16, 2026, sentenced Shekhar alias Sesappa, a 30-year-old resident of Ramakunja in Kadaba taluk, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹50,000. The court found him guilty of raping a minor girl and threatening her with death if she revealed the incident.
The heinous crime occurred on May 8, 2021, within the geographical limits of the Kadaba police station. According to case details presented during the trial, Shekhar alias Sesappa not only committed the sexual assault but also explicitly warned the minor victim, threatening to kill her should she disclose the incident to anyone.
Kadaba police initiated legal proceedings by registering a case (Crime No. 40/2021) under stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 376(2)(f)(n), 376(3), and 506. They also invoked relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Umesh U., who served as the Circle Inspector of Puttur Rural at the time, meticulously investigated the case, gathering scientific and other essential evidence before submitting a comprehensive charge sheet against the accused.
Presiding over the detailed trial, Judge Sumangala Chakalabbi of the 7th Additional District and Sessions Court carefully considered the evidence and arguments, ultimately concluding that the accused was guilty of the charges. Public Prosecutor Pushparaj Adyanthaya represented the state throughout the judicial process.
The court's sentence included two distinct components. For the offence under Section 5(l) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, Shekhar received 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000. In default of paying this fine, he will face an additional year of simple imprisonment. Furthermore, for criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the IPC, the court sentenced him to one year of rigorous imprisonment and an additional fine of ₹25,000. Failure to pay this second fine will result in another year of simple imprisonment. Consequently, Shekhar alias Sesappa will serve a total of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and pay a cumulative fine of ₹50,000.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalore Today