Dharwad Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Raping Minor, Ordered to Pay Fine and Compensation

37-year-old Prashantgouda Neelappagoudar was sentenced by the Second Additional District Special POCSO Court to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl. Judge Rajkumar C also imposed a fine of ₹55,000 on the accused and ordered the victim to receive ₹6 lakh in compensation from the victim compensation fund. The court noted that Neelappagoudar, who is married, lured the girl two years ago by promising marriage and then assaulted her. He threatened her to keep the crime secret. The victim later became pregnant and gave birth to a child at KIMS Hospital in Hubballi. Her father filed a complaint in a town of Dharwad district. Police Inspector Shreeshail Koujalagi investigated the case and filed a charge‑sheet. Public Prosecutor Shaila Angadi represented the State in the trial. ## Context The POCSO Act, under which the court operates, is designed to protect children from sexual offences and mandates stringent punishments to deter such crimes. Cases like this underscore the legal system’s focus on swift justice for victims and harsher penalties for offenders.