Man, 47, gets 20-yr jail for raping minor girl

Time of India

16-07-2025

Dehradun: A special sessions court in Gopeshwar, Chamoli district, sentenced a 47-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl.
The survivor's parents, Nepalese citizens, work as labourers in Jyotirmath. The assault occurred on June 25, 2024, when Mehto, a native of Bihar, lured the child to his house and committed the crime. He was arrested by police on July 31, 2024. Additionally, the court imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the convict and directed the govt to pay Rs 2.5 lakh as compensation to the survivor.
According to the FIR filed by the girl's mother, on June 25, while bathing her daughter, the mother discovered injury marks on her private parts.
When questioned, the child revealed that Ashok Mehto, who lived upstairs, had called her to his floor by offering chocolates. The survivor later informed the court of multiple instances of sexual assault.
The mother stated that the incident occurred when she and her husband were at work, leaving their two children -- an 11-year-old son and their daughter -- at home. In her testimony, Dr Shikha Bhatt, who examined the child at the hospital, confirmed the presence of pain and rashes on her private parts.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
4BHK+Family Lounge+Utility room at 4.49Cr (All Incl)*
ATS Triumph, Gurgaon
Book Now
Undo
The defence counsel argued that laboratory findings did not support the prosecution's case, claiming the accused had been falsely implicated due to previous disagreements with the child's parents. However, the court noted that lab reports only supplement medical evidence and hold limited weight when medical findings clearly indicate sexual assault.
On Monday, after evaluating the evidence and witness testimonies, the court concluded that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced Mehto to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Dehradun: A special sessions court in Gopeshwar, Chamoli district, sentenced a 47-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl. The survivor's parents, Nepalese citizens, work as labourers in Jyotirmath. The assault occurred on June 25, 2024, when Mehto, a native of Bihar, lured the child to his house and committed the crime. He was arrested by police on July 31, 2024.
Additionally, the court imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the convict and directed the govt to pay Rs 2.5 lakh as compensation to the survivor.
According to the FIR filed by the girl's mother, on June 25, while bathing her daughter, the mother discovered injury marks on her private parts. When questioned, the child revealed that Ashok Mehto, who lived upstairs, had called her to his floor by offering chocolates. The survivor later informed the court of multiple instances of sexual assault.
The mother stated that the incident occurred when she and her husband were at work, leaving their two children -- an 11-year-old son and their daughter -- at home. In her testimony, Dr Shikha Bhatt, who examined the child at the hospital, confirmed the presence of pain and rashes on her private parts.
The defence counsel argued that laboratory findings did not support the prosecution's case, claiming the accused had been falsely implicated due to previous disagreements with the child's parents. However, the court noted that lab reports only supplement medical evidence and hold limited weight when medical findings clearly indicate sexual assault.
On Monday, after evaluating the evidence and witness testimonies, the court concluded that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced Mehto to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.