A LOCAL court on Tuesday sentenced an e-rickshaw driver, Saumitra Roy, to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a minor girl. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict, pointing out that failure to pay would attract additional imprisonment.

“The verdict follows the examination of 39 witnesses and a detailed analysis of all evidence presented, ultimately leading to a conviction for rape and murder under the new BNS and POCSO laws. Roy will serve a life term and must pay the fine within five years or face additional imprisonment,” said Special Public Prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee.

The court’s verdict was based on the amount of evidence, including eyewitness accounts, forensic analysis, and electronic records. The conviction was delivered under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Sections 103(1) and 65(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The court’s order sets the fine to be paid within five years, failing which the imprisonment term will be extended as per law. The trial record will now proceed to the sentencing stage for any additional directions, and appellate remedies are available to the convicted person.

The case dates back to February 7, when the victim’s mother reported her daughter missing from their home. A note, purportedly written by the girl, was found, which claimed she had left on her own. Shortly after, the police recovered a body in a bush in a nearby area. The autopsy confirmed that the victim was a minor who had suffered a sexual assault and fatal injuries; the mother later identified the body as her daughter’s.

Prosecution evidence included witness testimony placing the victim with the accused, and the CCTV footage from the housing complex and other locations showing the two shortly before the body was found.

DNA analysis reportedly matched the accused’s profile to material recovered at the scene and to a swab from the victim.

Soil, dry-leaf and stick samples taken from crime site were forensically compared with samples linked to the accused’s vehicle and routes, and microscopic and density tests supported the prosecution’s case that the accused had been at the location, the court record said.