A POCSO court in Baran city sentenced a 71-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of his 5-year-old granddaughter, a lawyer reported on Saturday.

Judge Sonia Beniwal convicted Heeralal for the crime committed at his home in October 2022 and imposed a life sentence along with a ₹50,000 fine on Friday.

Public Prosecutor Harinarayan Singh reported that the minor's mother and aunt caught Heeralal in the act of rape in his room.

Following a complaint by the victim's mother at Harnawada Shahji Police Station, the police filed a case against Heeralal under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Heeralal was arrested after an initial investigation and has been in judicial custody since then, according to the lawyer.

The judge found Heeralal guilty of raping the girl and sentenced him to life imprisonment until natural death, along with a ₹50,000 fine. During the trial, the statements of 18 witnesses were recorded, and 24 pieces of evidence were presented to the court, according to the lawyer.