Bihar teacher awarded 14-year jail term for girl's rape

BHAGALPUR: A schoolteacher, Niraj Modi, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment by the Pocso court on Monday in connection with the rape of a 12-year-old girl under Ishipur-Barahat police station area in Bhagalpur district on October 14, 2018.
The court also slapped Rs1 lakh fine besides compensation of Rs3 lakh to be paid to the survivor. The incident occurred when the victim had gone to the field to ease herself.
The court also took serious note of the false claim by Niraj's father Raja Ram Modi, who tried to mislead the court that the accused had died and that the case be closed.
Special public prosecutor at the Pocso court, Naresh Prasad Rai, said ADJ-7 Lavkush Kumar found Niraj guilty under Sections 3 and 4 of the Pocso Act.
Rai said after the FIR lodged by the victim and during the trial procedures, Niraj's father had submitted an 'affidavit' about the death of his accused son.
Following the affidavit, the case was closed in the court, but the victim later on contested the claim of Raja Ram about the death of his son and submitted evidences that Niraj was alive, Rai said.
In light of the facts, the court reopened the case and sought proper investigations from the police and asked them to produce the accused during the trial. Rai said seven witnesses were produced before the court during the trial.
Sources said the court may initiate legal proceedings against Niraj's father for misleading the court.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)