Man sentenced to 20 yrs RI under P0CS0 Act
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 18 2025:
The Fast Track Special Court 2 on Monday sentenced a 45-year-old man to 20 years rigorous imprisonment, for penetrative sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Oinam Robinchandra Singh of Tokpa Ching Mayai Leikai was convicted by Judge W Tonen Meitei on charges of cheating by personation under Section 419 of the Indian Penal Code and penetrative sexual assault under Section 4 of the POCSO Act.
The court awarded Robinchandra concurrent sentences of two years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1,000 for cheating by personation and 20 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000 for the sexual assault charge.
The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Robinchandra will serve the longer 20-year term.
Special public prosecutor M Bishambhor argued for strict punishment, telling the court that "crime against female children in the society is on the rise and to send a message to the society is necessary".
The prosecution sought the maximum 20-year sentence, citing that the victim was 14 years and two months old at the time of the offence committed.
The prosecution also revealed that Robinchandra faces additional charges in another case, including rape, before the Sessions Judge in Bishnupur.
A charge order dated August 26, 2022, shows Robinchandra is accused of offences under sections 417, 419, 376, and 506 of the IPC .
The prosecution argued that this made him a "habitual offender" deserving stricter punishment.
Defence counsel L Indrakumar pleaded for leniency, arguing that Robinchandra "hails from poor strata of society and is the sole bread earner of his family".
The defence requested minimum sentencing and argued the case should be decided under the pre-2019 version of the POCSO Act, before amendments that increased minimum sentences from seven years to 20 years.
However, the Judge ruled that courts generally apply the law in effect at the time of conviction, even if the offence occurred earlier.
The judge noted this principle is "based on the understanding that the legislature intends the more recent, and often more severe, penalties to be applied to deter future offenses".
The court found "no adequate reason exists for exercise of any discretion beyond the specific punishment prescribed by the POCSO Act" and imposed the minimum 20-year sentence under the amended law.
In addition to the criminal sentence, the court awarded Rs 4 lakh in compensation to the victim "for mental trauma suffered by her in the incident and during the period of investigation as well as trial" .
The prosecution had initially sought Rs 7 lakh in victim compensation.
The compensation is to be paid by the state government from the Victim Compensation Fund within 30 days and designated for the victim's "future education, health care and welfare" .
Manipur State Legal Sendees Authority was directed to assist the victim in securing the compensation.
Robinchandra was originally arrested on May 28, 2016, and spent approximately six months in detention before being released on bail December 2, 2016 .
This pre-conviction detention period will be credited against his sentence under Section 428 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The judge emphasised that if he fails to pay the imposed fines within one year, he will face additional imprisonment of two months for the cheating charge and six months for the POCSO violation.
Court records show Robinchandra admitted during the sentencing hearing about the pending rape trial and pleaded for leniency.
The judge noted that while deciding punishment, courts must "strike a balance between aggravating points and mitigating points" .
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