Man sentenced to 20 years for assaulting girl

A man from Kerala has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in Coimbatore in 2021. The case was heard in a special court dedicated to protecting children from sexual offenses. The man, identified as Arun Kumar, was a taxi driver visiting Coimbatore. During his visit, he sexually assaulted the girl when no one else was present. He threatened her not to tell anyone. After he returned to Kerala, the girl confided in her parents about the assault. Kumar was arrested after the girl's parents filed a complaint with the police. He faced charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The case was investigated by Inspector Dowlath Nisha, and the prosecution was led by Poornima Devi. On March 21, the court found Kumar guilty. Besides the 20-year sentence for sexual assault, he received additional prison time for house trespass and criminal intimidation. All sentences will be served at the same time.