Landmark Conviction in Pari Murder Case: Juvenile Accused Sentenced to 20 Years

Cuttack: In a significant development, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, also serving as the Children’s Court in Nayagarh, has delivered a conviction verdict in the highly publicized Pari murder case. The sole juvenile accused has been handed a 20-year sentence for the heinous crimes of rape and murder committed against a five-year-old girl.

The court, in its judgment today, found the accused guilty under sections 363, 376A, 302, and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The juvenile has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for rape under section 376AB IPC and section 6 of the POSCO Act. Additionally, a 20-year punishment has been awarded for the charge of murder under section 302 IPC. Furthermore, the accused faces a three-year conviction under sections 363 and 201 IPC, along with a fine of Rs. 1000 each. In case of default, a six-month RI will be imposed. The terms of conviction will run concurrently, and the Under Trial Prisoners (UTP) period will be set aside.

The Pari case gained national attention when the five-year-old girl went missing on July 14, 2020, while playing outside her residence in Jadupur village, Nayagarh. Tragically, her skeletal remains were discovered ten days later on July 23, 2020, concealed under bushes near a pond behind the accused’s house. The Nayagarh District Police initiated the initial investigation, followed by the Crime Branch taking over. Subsequently, the case was transferred to the CID Crime Branch.

The Government of Odisha constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Arun Bothra, the then Inspector General of Police, CID-Crime Branch. The SIT made significant progress, as acknowledged by the Hon’ble High Court in its observations on January 12, 2021.

The prosecution presented a robust case during the trial, examining 31 witnesses, exhibiting 135 documents, and producing 18 material objects. The verdict represents a crucial milestone in delivering justice for the innocent victim, Pari, and brings closure to a case that shook the conscience of the community.