HYDERABAD: A band worker, Hathagade Sumeeth, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the rape of a nine-year-old girl. The incident occurred in Mangalhat in September 2021.
The XII Additional Sessions Judge, Nampally, T Anitha, delivered the verdict on Wednesday. The court also ordered Sumeeth to pay Rs 3 lakh in compensation to the victim.
On the day of the crime, the girl stepped out of her home looking for her parents. Her parents had a quarrel, and her mother went to the police station to lodge a complaint. Her father was also called to the police station for questioning. Not knowing this, the girl woke up from sleep, went out in search of them, and fell into the trap.
Sumeeth saw her roaming in the streets and trapped her. He took her to an isolated location in their neighbourhood and raped her. Later, her parents found her, and upon inquiry, the girl informed them about the assault.
Based on CCTV footage and the clues given by the girl, Mangalhat police arrested Sumeeth and remanded him to judicial custody. During the trial, the court examined the survivor's statement and CCTV footage, pronounced Sumeeth guilty, and awarded him punishment.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)