[Bengia Ajum]
YUPIA, 9 Feb: In the first such case in Arunachal, the special sessions judge here in Papum Pare district has sentenced one Likha Yallam to seven days’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on her under Section 22 of the POCSO Act for misusing the Act and giving false information under it.
The trial in this case had started way back on 6 December, 2018, and culminated on 7 November, 2022. The judgment was delivered on Thursday.
In 2017, Yallam and her husband were having a troubled marriage. In the same year, a minor girl who was working as the maid in their house lodged an FIR against the husband, alleging that she had been raped. An FIR was registered under the POCSO Act and, after the completion of the investigation a chargesheet was filed against the husband under Section 376 of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
However, in a dramatic U-turn during the trial of the case, the minor girl testified on oath in the court that she had never been raped by the man, and that she had lodged a false complaint after being instigated by Yallam.
Yallam also testified on oath that she had provided false information to the police against her husband.
While acquitting the husband, Special Judge Gote Mega noted that “the testimony of Likha Yallam has been found vital while acquitting her husband from the false charge under POCSO Act.”
Yallam has been taken into court custody and sent to the Jully jail.
Earlier, Additional SPP K Bagra prayed for a month’s simple imprisonment with a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh for the offence, punishable under Section 22 of the POCSO Act, against Yallam.
On the other hand, Yallam’s counsel K Dubey prayed for “considering leniency, as she has to look after three minor children, aged about 12 years, 13 years and 14 years, who are presently staying with her.”
