In a verdict that made headlines across Tamil Nadu, a special court for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Madurai has on Wednesday awarded a rigorous imprisonment to a 73-year-old man after he was found guilty of raping five minor girls. 

73-year-old Devapitchai was running an illegal orphanage in Usilampatti, Madurai. According to the prosecution, Devapitchai was sexually assaulting several inmates including minors at his orphanage. He was accused of raping five minor girls who were sheltered there and the issue came to light in 2018 after which the Usilampatti all-women police booked a case against him.

Since the victims were minors, a case against POCSO Act was slapped against him and the case was being heard at the special POCSO court in Madurai. On Wednesday, the special court bench comprising of Justice Kirubakaran Mathuram pronounced the verdict that Devapitchai was found guilty under the POCSO Act. 

The justice then awarded Devapitchai a 20-year rigorous incarceration and imposed a total fine of Rs 40,000. The judge has also directed the government to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to one of the victims and Rs 25,000 each to rest of the victims.

The court further ordered the convict to pay the compensation in the Madurai district legal aid in the names of the victims. Devapitchai was arrested in 2018 and was kept under judicial custody.