A court has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl under the false promise of marriage. The ruling emphasizes the judiciary's firm stance against crimes targeting children, as highlighted by a Kurukshetra fast-track court. The additional district and sessions judge, presiding over the special court for rape and cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, found the accused guilty on multiple counts under the POCSO Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The incident leading to the conviction occurred when the girl went missing from her relative's home. Promptly, a local resident identified Balwinder Singh as a suspect, leading to the registration of a case by the Ismailabad police. Sub-inspector Ramandeep Kaur led the investigation, successfully recovering the girl, arranging for her medical examination, and apprehending the accused shortly thereafter.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that directly linked Balwinder Singh to the crime. The court's sentence included 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹30,000 under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, with an additional six months of imprisonment to be served in case of default. Furthermore, the court imposed a five-year rigorous imprisonment with a ₹5,000 fine under Section 363 of the IPC for kidnapping, and a seven-year rigorous imprisonment with a ₹5,000 fine under Section 366 of the IPC for abduction for forced marriage or illicit relations; defaulting on either fine adds three months to the sentence. The court declared that all sentences would run concurrently, and the accused was liable for a total of ₹40,000 in fines.

In a separate case, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to a man accused of raping a minor, but only after he promised to marry her and care for their child. Justice Krishan Pahal directed the accused to deposit ₹2 lakh in the name of the child until she reaches adulthood. The prosecution detailed how the man deceived the 15-year-old girl with a promise of marriage, leading to a physical relationship and her subsequent pregnancy. When he refused to marry her and allegedly threatened her, a case was registered against him under the IPC and the POCSO Act at the Chilkana police station. However, the accused's counsel argued that the girl was not a minor and that she stated no force was used against her in her statement before the magistrate.