The POCSO Special Court in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday (July 22, 2024) sentenced Nagapogu Dayanand Raju alias Kukkala Raju to life imprisonment for the murder of a 17-year-old visually challenged girl, along with five years of imprisonment under the POCSO Act, to run concurrently. Ms. Shami Parvin Sultana Begum, Judge of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Court pronounced the verdict and imposed a fine of ₹2,000.

As per the prosecution, on February 12, 2023, the accused attacked the minor girl with a knife in Tadepalli owing to a grudge after she rejected his demand to satisfy his sexual desire. The girl, who suffered severe injuries, died during treatment on February 13 at Vijayawada Government Hospital.

The accused, addicted to vices and estranged from his family, had been living in the area and observing the girl. When her mother left for work, he approached her with indecent intent. Upon rejection, he inflicted multiple knife wounds. The girl’s mother rushed her to hospital, but she died the next day.

DSP J. Prashanthi filed the charge sheet. Forensic DNA analysis confirmed the victim’s blood on the accused’s shirt. Gaddam Madhuri’s eyewitness account was crucial. The prosecution was led by District Deputy Director M.D. Barkath Ali Khan.