UP Couple Filmed Abuse of 30+ Children, Sold Child Porn; Court Awards Death
A couple has been sentenced to death by a court in Uttar Pradesh after being convicted of sexually assaulting 33 children, some as young as three. The landmark verdict was delivered by a special judge under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Banda.
Verdicto News Desk 
A couple has been sentenced to death by a court in Uttar Pradesh after being convicted of sexually assaulting 33 children, some as young as three. The landmark verdict was delivered by a special judge under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Banda.
Conviction and Charges
The convicts — Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati — were found guilty under multiple provisions of the POCSO Act, including aggravated penetrative sexual assault, unnatural offences, child pornography, and criminal conspiracy. The court held that the nature and scale of the offences placed the case within the “rarest of rare” category, warranting capital punishment.
Compensation and Survivor Relief
In a significant direction prioritising survivor rehabilitation, the court ordered the government to pay ₹10 lakh compensation to each survivor. It further directed that any money recovered from the residence of the convicts be distributed equally among the victims.
Investigation by Central Bureau of Investigation
The CBI registered the case in October 2020 following allegations of systematic sexual abuse of children. During investigation, authorities uncovered prolonged and organised criminal conduct spanning a decade. The crimes were committed across parts of Chitrakoot and Banda between 2010 and 2020.
Investigators found that several survivors suffered severe physical injuries, including injuries to private parts, while others sustained eye damage. Many continue to experience long-term psychological trauma. Some survivors reportedly required extended hospitalisation.
Rambhawan, a junior engineer in the Irrigation Department, allegedly lured children through money, gifts, and access to online video games. The CBI filed its chargesheet in February 2021.
Evidence Handling and Child Protection Measures
The investigation involved coordinated efforts between forensic experts, medical professionals, and child protection authorities. Minor survivors were medically examined with safeguards for their dignity, and counselling support was provided to address emotional trauma. Authorities also ensured careful preservation and handling of digital evidence, strengthening the prosecution’s case.
Court’s Reasoning
In its ruling, the court emphasised the systemic and exceptionally depraved nature of the offences. It noted that the magnitude of harm, multiplicity of victims across districts, and the extreme moral culpability of the convicts left no scope for reform, making the death penalty necessary to meet the ends of justice.
Legal Significance
The verdict underscores the judiciary’s strict approach toward crimes involving minors and reinforces the deterrent framework of the POCSO Act. The ruling also highlights the evolving judicial emphasis on victim compensation and trauma-informed investigation in child sexual abuse cases.
