The Fast-Track Mahila Court here on Thursday sentenced a 27-year-old man to 20 years’ imprisonment for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2020.
According to the prosecution, a 17-year-old girl went missing on July 9, 2021, and the Vellithiruppur police registered a missing case. Investigation revealed that R. Gowrishankar of Chennampatti had befriended the girl, kidnapped her, married her, and sexually assaulted her. The police traced and rescued her, and registered a case under Section 366 (kidnapping) of the IPC, Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and Sections 5 (L) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Gowrishankar was subsequently arrested.
After trial, Judge C. Sornakumar sentenced him to 20 years for sexual assault with a fine of ₹5,000, five years for kidnapping with a fine of ₹5,000, and one year for marrying her with a fine of ₹5,000. The sentences will run concurrently. He has been lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison.
Published – August 15, 2025 01:38 am IST
