Three persons were convicted by the Fast Track Special Court for expeditious trial and disposal of rape and POCSO Act cases at L.B. Nagar in a sexual assault case registered by Balapur police in 2021. The court also directed payment of ₹4 lakh as compensation to the victim.

The convicted persons were Mohammad Azeem, 25, who was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined ₹22,000, Mohammad Haleem, 31, and Jameela Begum, 60, who were each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined ₹6,000. The case was registered under Sections 312, 376(2)(n) and 506 read with 109 of the IPC and Section 5 read with 6 of the POCSO Act at Balapur police station.

According to the police, the victim, then aged 16, was living with her mother, the complainant, and siblings after her parents got separated due to family disputes.

The case came to light when the complainant noticed her elder daughter in distress and questioned her. The girl disclosed that Mohammad Azeem had allegedly subjected her to repeated sexual assault by threatening her with dire consequences. When the girl later complained of severe stomach pain and was taken to hospital, a medical examination revealed that she was pregnant.

Police said that when the complainant confronted her mother and brothers, they allegedly threatened both her and the victim. They were also accused of forcing the minor to consume abortion pills, resulting in a miscarriage.