Is a Popular Karnataka YouTube Folk Singer Facing POCSO Charges?
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Bagalkot (Karnataka), Dec 16 (NationPress) The Karnataka Police have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) invoking the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) against a renowned YouTube folk vocalist along with six other individuals due to accusations of sexual assault against a minor girl, as reported by officials on Tuesday.
The victim, identified to be from Belagavi, participated as a dancer in an orchestra event. The alleged crime reportedly occurred on October 24, during which the accused individuals had visited a village to perform at an orchestra celebration tied to a religious event.
In her formal complaint to law enforcement, the victim alleged that during the occasion, the accused singer and his associates took her to a lodge where they perpetrated sexual assault. She further alleged that they recorded a video of the assault. The complaint implicates a total of seven individuals, including the singer.
Initially, the case was filed at the Chikkodi Police Station on December 14, based on the victim's testimony. The case was later moved to the Mahalingapura Police Station in Bagalkote district on December 15, reflecting the site of the incident.
As it stands, an FIR under the POCSO Act has been registered against the accused singer and six others at the Mahalingapura station.
The police are in the process of verifying the details surrounding the case.
In a related incident, a fast-track POCSO court in Shivamogga recently sentenced a 21-year-old gang member to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape and assault of a 17-year-old girl in Bhadravathi town back in 2023. The perpetrator was also fined Rs 1.8 lakh.
The accused was apprehended following a complaint lodged by the victim's mother, and a charge sheet was subsequently filed against him for raping the minor after promising marriage. Previously, he had been released on bail and was later involved in three additional criminal cases. During the trial of the POCSO case, the prosecution presented evidence regarding these other instances.
Moreover, on October 11, the Kumbalgodu police arrested a 25-year-old employee of a private firm under the POCSO Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl at his apartment. The incident came to light when the girl disclosed the harassment to her mother.