Puducherry, Apr 30 (PTI) The Special Judge of the Fast Track Court in Puducherry, M D Sumathy, on Thursday found Kakka alias Karunas guilty of all charges in the 2024 rape and murder case of a nine-year-old girl from neighbouring Muthialpet.
The judge held the accused guilty of gang rape, kidnapping and murder, as well as offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and posted the case to May 5 for sentencing.
The crime sent shockwaves through the union territory when it was first reported.
The girl was reported missing from her house in March 2024, and her body was later found dumped in a local drainage canal.
Police said she was last seen with 19-year-old Karunas, a resident in the vicinity of her house.
Karunas was arrested for questioning, and interrogation led to the arrest of his accomplice, Vivekanandan (56).
However, Vivekanandan later died by suicide in the Central Prison in neighbouring Kalapet, where he was lodged after his arrest.
Consequently, proceedings against him stood abated.
Karunas was charged under Sections 376AB (rape of a girl under 12 years), 302 (murder), 367 (kidnapping/abduction to cause grievous harm), 368 (wrongful confinement), 342 (wrongful confinement), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and 34 (common intention), as well as provisions of the POCSO Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. PTI COR SSK
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