Guwahati: The Meghalaya High Court has commuted the punishment imposed on a POCSO Act convict. The convict was awarded 18 years of jail by a special Court. However, the High Court has reduced it to 10 years.
The case arises out of a complaint filed by the victim’s mother with the Sohiong police outpost in Meghalaya on November 3, 2017, leading to the arrest of Rajingstar Thabah.
Initially, the Special Judge (POCSO) in Shillong had pronounced judgment on July 11, 2022, sentencing Thabah to 18 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000.
Additionally, Thabah faced an additional three months of simple imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine, which was directed to be given to the victim.
On March 7, the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court comprising Chief Justice S Vaidyanathan and Justice W Diengdoh, hearing a criminal appeal, commuted the sentence.
The court allowed the appeal in part, reducing the imprisonment term to ten years and maintaining the fine of Rs 20,000.
The Meghalaya High Court specified that if the fine had not already been paid, it should be disbursed to the victim girl, as directed by the trial court.
Moreover, the Meghalaya High Court clarified that Thabah would be eligible for set-off under section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for the period of detention already served.
The judgment upheld the decision of the trial court in all other aspects, except for the reduction in the duration of imprisonment.
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