Ghazipur POCSO case: Man gets 12 years for sexually assaulting minor
Synopsis
Eight years after a minor girl was lured and sexually assaulted in Ghazipur, a POCSO court has finally delivered its verdict — 12 years of rigorous imprisonment for Sikandar Rajbhar. The case is also a marker for Uttar Pradesh Police's Operation Conviction, which claims credit for pushing the prosecution to its conclusion.
Key Takeaways
Sikandar Rajbhar was sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment by a POCSO court in Ghazipur on 23 July .
The court imposed fines totalling ₹40,000 across three sections — POCSO Act and IPC Sections 363 and 366.
The incident dates back to 2017 ; the case was registered after the victim's mother filed a complaint.
The conviction was secured under Uttar Pradesh Police's Operation Conviction campaign, launched by the Director General of Police.
The POCSO Act mandates trial completion within one year of cognisance — a timeline the eight-year gap in this case did not meet.
A POCSO court in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on 23 July sentenced Sikandar Rajbhar to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl, with the court also imposing a fine of ₹25,000. The verdict was delivered by POCSO Court Judge Ram Avtar Prasad, nearly eight years after the incident first occurred in 2017.
How the Case Unfolded
According to the prosecution, Rajbhar — a resident of a village under the Kasimabad police station area — allegedly lured the minor girl from her home by promising to marry her and subsequently sexually assaulted her. The accused lived in the same neighbourhood as the victim. Police arrested him a few days after the incident.
The case was formally registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following a complaint filed by the victim's mother. Several witnesses testified before the court during the trial.
Sentences Handed Down
After examining evidence and hearing arguments, Judge Ram Avtar Prasad convicted Sikandar Rajbhar on multiple counts. The sentences awarded on 23 July are as follows:
Under Section 8 of the POCSO Act: 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000; failure to pay attracts an additional one month of simple imprisonment. Under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC): five years of simple imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000; default carries an additional seven days. Under Section 366 of the IPC: seven years of simple imprisonment and a fine of ₹10,000; default carries an additional 15 days.
Role of Operation Conviction
Ghazipur Police stated that the conviction was secured through continuous monitoring and effective prosecution under Operation Conviction, a campaign launched by the Uttar Pradesh Police Director General of Police to ensure follow-through on pending criminal trials. Officials said the campaign has helped accelerate closure in cases that might otherwise have languished in the system.
Broader Context
This verdict comes amid sustained pressure on courts and law enforcement across Uttar Pradesh to expedite POCSO trials, which critics have long argued move too slowly to deliver timely justice to survivors. The POCSO Act, enacted in 2012, mandates that trials be completed within one year of cognisance — a timeline rarely met in practice. The gap between the 2017 incident and the 2025 verdict underscores that structural challenge. Assistant Government Advocate Ram Kumar Rai confirmed the conviction details in statements to reporters.
Point of View
But the timeline is damning. An incident from 2017 reaching verdict in 2025 is an eight-year wait for a child survivor — precisely the delay the POCSO Act was designed to prevent with its one-year trial mandate. UP Police's Operation Conviction deserves credit for pushing prosecution, but the structural backlog in special POCSO courts remains unaddressed. Until dedicated fast-track infrastructure matches legislative intent, headline convictions will coexist with a system that routinely fails survivors on time.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the verdict in the Ghazipur POCSO case?
A POCSO court in Ghazipur sentenced Sikandar Rajbhar to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment on 23 July for sexually assaulting a minor. The court also imposed a fine of ₹25,000 under Section 8 of the POCSO Act, along with additional sentences under IPC Sections 363 and 366.
When did the Ghazipur POCSO incident occur?
The incident dates back to 2017, when the accused allegedly lured the minor girl from her home under the pretext of marriage. The case was registered after the victim's mother filed a complaint with police.
What is Operation Conviction and what role did it play?
Operation Conviction is a campaign launched by the Uttar Pradesh Police Director General of Police to ensure continuous monitoring and effective prosecution of pending criminal cases. Ghazipur Police credited the campaign with securing the conviction in this POCSO case.
What sentences were awarded across all charges?
The court awarded 12 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 8 of the POCSO Act (fine ₹25,000), five years simple imprisonment under IPC Section 363 (fine ₹5,000), and seven years simple imprisonment under IPC Section 366 (fine ₹10,000). Default on fines carries additional short-term imprisonment.
Who delivered the judgment in the Ghazipur POCSO case?
POCSO Court Judge Ram Avtar Prasad delivered the judgment after examining evidence and witness testimony. Assistant Government Advocate Ram Kumar Rai confirmed the conviction details.
