Judo Coach Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Sexually Assaulting Minor Girl

A special court in Kurukshetra has handed down a life sentence to a judo coach found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor girl who was a student at the private school where he worked.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge of the fast-track special court for rape and POCSO Act cases in Kurukshetra sentenced Gurmail Singh, 27, to rigorous imprisonment for life. The court also imposed a combined fine of Rs 88,000 on the convicted coach. 

According to the police spokesman, the case was initiated in March 2020 when the mother of a minor girl filed a complaint stating that her daughter, who attended a private school in Kurukshetra, had been sexually assaulted by the school's judo coach. 

Digital Evidence Revealed Pattern of Predatory Behavior

Gurmail Singh had created a WhatsApp group where he would send obscene messages and videos to minor girls who were his students as revealed in the investigation. This fomred a crucial evidence for the prosecution's case. Additionally the coach blackmailed the minor girl, sexually assaulted her and threatened her with extreme consequences if she reported the incident to anyone. After the complaint, a case was registered at the women's police station under various sections of the POCSO Act, IT Act, and Indian Penal Code.

Multiple Concurrent Sentences for Different Offenses

The court's ruling was comprehensive, imposing multiple sentences for different aspects of the crime:

• Life imprisonment and a Rs 30,000 fine under Section 6 of the POCSO Act
• Seven years' rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 15,000 fine under Section 10 of the POCSO Act
• Five years' rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 11,000 fine under Section 14 of the POCSO Act 
• One year's rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 2,000 fine under Section 323 of the IPC 
• Seven years' rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 8,000 fine under Section 452 of the IPC 
• One year's rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 2,000 fine under Section 506 of the IPC
• Three years' rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine under Section 67 of the IT Act
• Three years' rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine under Section 67-B of the IT Act 

The court ordered that all the sentences would run concurrently and which will result in life imprisonment as the maximum punishment. This case highlights the serious consequences for crimes against children in Haryana and the effectiveness of fast-track courts in giving justice in such sensitive cases.