Jaipur POCSO court sentences teacher, aide to 20-year RI in minor assault case
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A POCSO Court in Jaipur on 10 June 2025 sentenced school teacher Afzal Khan and his associate Ram Swaroop to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment each for the abduction, repeated sexual exploitation, and blackmail of a minor student in the Jobner police station area of Jaipur Rural district, Rajasthan. The court also imposed monetary fines — ₹2.75 lakh on the principal accused and ₹1.75 lakh on the co-accused.
Background of the Case
The case came to light on 2 January 2024, when the victim's family filed a missing person report at Jobner Police Station, naming their daughter's school teacher, Afzal Khan, as a suspect. Police traced the accused to Sirsa, Haryana, where he was apprehended, and the minor was safely recovered.
According to police records, Khan had allegedly established contact with the victim while she was enrolled as his student, and subsequently exploited and blackmailed her using objectionable photographs and videos. On 1 January 2024, Khan and his associate Ram Swaroop allegedly abducted the girl and transported her towards Haryana.
Investigation and Evidence
The then Station House Officer and Investigating Officer, Sub-Inspector Dharam Singh Gurjar, initiated immediate action upon receiving the complaint, including the victim's medical examination and evidence collection. The case was selected under Jaipur Range Police's Case Officer Scheme, which enabled continuous monitoring and expedited investigation.
Jaipur Rural Police subsequently filed a comprehensive charge sheet under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code. During the trial, statements of 16 witnesses were recorded, 68 documentary exhibits were produced, and 12 material exhibits were submitted before the court.
Court Verdict and Sentencing
The judgment was delivered by District Judge Dr Kailash Chandra Atwasiya of the POCSO Court, Jaipur. Afzal Khan, a resident of Dyodi, Phulera, was convicted as the principal accused and sentenced to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of ₹2.75 lakh. Co-accused Ram Swaroop, a resident of Laxmipura, Jobner, was convicted for aiding the principal accused and participating in the criminal conspiracy, and received an identical sentence of 20 years' rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹1.75 lakh.
Senior advocate Mahavir Singh Kishnawat served as Special Public Prosecutor, appointed on the recommendation of the Director General of Police and with state government approval, to ensure effective prosecution in this sensitive matter.
Police Response and Significance
Jaipur Range Inspector General of Police Rahul Prakash said the verdict reflects the commitment of Rajasthan Police towards ensuring justice for victims of crimes against children. He added that the outcome highlights the effectiveness of the Case Officer Scheme in securing timely convictions in sensitive cases. This conviction is among the swifter resolutions under POCSO in Rajasthan, with the case moving from complaint to sentencing in roughly 18 months.