Nagpur: In a landmark verdict, a special POCSO court in Nagpur sentenced a former school guard to three life imprisonments for sexually abusing minor students at an Ashramshala. The convict, Homdeo Padole, was found guilty under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court also imposed a total fine of ₹40,000, which will be given to the survivors after the appeal period.
Delivering the judgment on Friday, Special Judge J A Sheikh sentenced Padole under Sections 4 and 6 of POCSO for sexual abuse and Section 377 of IPC for unnatural intercourse. While the sentences were pronounced separately, they will run concurrently, stated Additional Public Prosecutor Rashmi Khaparde, who represented the prosecution.
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Friday 07March 2025
The court also found Arun Husukle, a senior official of the school management, guilty of abetting the crime by failing to act despite being informed about the guard’s misdeeds. However, two teachers, who were also accused, were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence against them. The court dropped charges under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in this case.
The case dates back to December 2016, when three separate offences were registered against Padole at the Bori Police Station. He had already been convicted in the first case, and the trial in the third case is still pending.
In addition to life imprisonment, Padole was sentenced to three years under Section 8 of POCSO, along with a ₹5,000 fine. One year under Section 506 of IPC for criminal intimidation, with another ₹5,000 fine.
The court also directed the District Legal Aid Services Cell to ensure that the survivors receive compensation under Maharashtra’s Manodharya scheme, which provides financial aid and rehabilitation support to victims of sexual violence.
