In a landmark judgment, a special court in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, sentenced a 32-year-old man to life imprisonment for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl. The verdict was delivered within just 20 working days after the chargesheet was filed, making it one of the swiftest convictions in such cases.
The convict, Avinash Pandey, also known as &lsquo;Simple&rsquo;, was identified as a serial offender who specifically targeted children between the ages of five and seven. The court not only handed him life imprisonment but also imposed a fine of ₹1.6 lakh, which will be given to the survivor.
Investigations revealed that since late June, several complaints had emerged from the Sujauli area about a man abducting young girls in the early hours of the morning while they slept outside their homes during the summer. He lured them away on a bicycle, took them to isolated spots, showed them obscene videos, assaulted them, and later tried to calm them with sweets, food, or new clothes.
Acting swiftly, the Bahraich police registered four FIRs under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act. A special team, led by Circle Officer Harshita Tiwari, managed to track down the suspect in early July. During interrogation, Pandey confessed to multiple assaults, and investigators recovered incriminating photos, videos, the victims&rsquo; clothes, his bicycle, and mobile phones.
The chargesheet was filed on August 9, charges framed on August 22, and sentencing concluded in record time. Senior police officials have lauded the investigation team, while the Director General of Police commended both law enforcement and prosecution for ensuring speedy justice.

UP court convicts serial child rapist in 20 days, praises police for swift investigation

Bahraich Court Jails Serial Rapist for Life

UP court convicts serial child rapist in 20 days, praises police for swift investigation

September 25, 2025 | 09:05 IST