In a landmark ruling that sends a strong message against child sexual abuse, a special POCSO court in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced Ram Bhavan and his wife Durgavati to death for heinous crimes against minors. The couple was convicted under the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act for grave sexual offenses, including using children for pornographic purposes and storing explicit material.
The court described the case as the ‘rarest of rare,’ involving the systematic exploitation of 33 children, some as young as three years old. Evidence revealed brutal assaults leaving permanent scars, with several victims still receiving hospital treatment and battling deep psychological trauma.
Ram Bhavan, a junior engineer in the irrigation department, and his wife lured vulnerable children with online video games, cash, and gifts between 2010 and 2020 in Banda and Chitrakoot districts. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case on September 31, 2020, after uncovering a network of abuse and online dissemination of exploitative content.
During the investigation, forensic experts, medical specialists in child abuse cases, and child protection authorities collaborated seamlessly. The CBI filed a chargesheet on February 10, 2021, leading to this swift trial and verdict.
In a move towards justice for the survivors, the court ordered the government to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to each victim. Additionally, cash seized from the accused’s home will be equally distributed among the affected children, ensuring some financial support for their recovery.
This verdict underscores India’s zero-tolerance stance on child exploitation, urging stricter vigilance and faster prosecutions in similar cases nationwide.