A special POCSO court in Haridwar has sentenced Suraj Prakash Pokhariyal to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a 7-year-old girl. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of 50,000 rupees.

The sentence relates to an incident reported in the Haridwar Nagar Kotwali area on 16 January 2026. If Pokhariyal fails to deposit the fine, he will serve an additional 6 months in prison, according to the court’s order.

The child’s identity has not been disclosed, in keeping with legal safeguards for minors involved in sexual-offence cases.

Case began with complaint from the family

According to the complaint filed with police, the girl was playing alone near her home when the accused allegedly lured her away. The complaint stated that he took her into a room, where the offence occurred.

The girl later returned to her family in tears and described what had happened. Her relatives then approached Haridwar Nagar Kotwali and submitted a written complaint.

Police registered a case after receiving the complaint and arrested Pokhariyal on the same day. He was identified as Suraj Prakash Pokhariyal, son of Virendra Pokhariyal, originally from Ghatiyali in Pauri Garhwal and currently living in Bharat Mata Puram Colony, Bhupatwala, Haridwar.

Following the arrest, he was sent to judicial custody. Police also arranged the child’s medical examination at a government hospital and began collecting evidence linked to the case.

Investigation and chargesheet

Nagar Kotwali in-charge Kundan Singh Rana formed a police team to handle the investigation. The team examined the site and gathered evidence through the prescribed legal process.

The investigation was assigned to woman sub-inspector Nisha Singh. Police recorded statements, examined the available material and completed the required procedures before submitting the case for trial.

A chargesheet was filed in the court on 2 March 2026. The matter was then heard by the special POCSO court in Haridwar.

During the proceedings, constable Sanjeev Bisht, ed at Nagar Kotwali, represented the police side before the court. After considering the evidence and the arguments presented by both sides, the court found Pokhariyal guilty of rape.

Court imposes prison term and fine

The court awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of 50,000 rupees. The order provides for a further 6-month prison term if the fine remains unpaid.

Police highlighted the timeline of the case. The complaint was registered and the accused was arrested on 16 January 2026, while the chargesheet followed on 2 March 2026. The conviction and sentence came after roughly 8 months of court proceedings, according to the police account.

Inspector Kundan Singh Rana said prompt investigation, evidence collection and effective presentation before the court contributed to the outcome. He said the police completed the arrest and chargesheet stages quickly and prioritised the investigation because of the seriousness of the alleged offence.

The case also involved a medical examination of the child and the collection of evidence before the chargesheet was filed. Police said the investigation followed the required legal process and that the child’s identity was kept confidential.

Why the case matters

Cases involving children require timely registration of complaints, careful preservation of evidence and adherence to procedures protecting the survivor’s identity. In this matter, police said these steps were undertaken after the family approached Nagar Kotwali.

The verdict establishes the legal outcome in this case: Pokhariyal has been convicted and must serve the prison sentence ordered by the special POCSO court. The financial penalty and the additional sentence for non-payment are also part of the court’s order.

Conclusion

The Haridwar special POCSO court convicted Suraj Prakash Pokhariyal and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a 50,000-rupee fine and 6 additional months for non-payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What sentence did the Haridwar POCSO court impose?

The court sentenced Suraj Prakash Pokhariyal to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

Q. What fine was ordered?

The court imposed a fine of 50,000 rupees.

Q. What happens if the fine is not paid?

The convict will have to serve an additional 6 months in prison.

Q. When was the case registered?

Police registered the case on 16 January 2026 after the child’s family submitted a written complaint.

Q. When was the chargesheet filed?

Police filed the chargesheet in the court on 2 March 2026.

Q. Who investigated the case?

Woman sub-inspector Nisha Singh conducted the investigation, under the supervision of Nagar Kotwali in-charge Kundan Singh Rana.

Q. Was the child’s identity disclosed?

No. Police kept the identity of the minor confidential as required in such cases.