UP couple get death for sexually abusing 33 minors, selling videos on dark web
While delivering the verdict, the Pocso court, termed the case "rarest of the rare" and said Ram Bhavan and his wife Durgavati's crimes were based on "unparalleled depravity".
In a landmark judgment, a couple in Uttar Pradesh were given the death penalty for the sexual exploitation of as many as 33 minor boys, with some as young as three-years-old, over a decade. Furthermore, they also filmed the acts and sold child pornographic content on the dark web in Chitrakoot.
The verdict, delivered by the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Banda, came after an extensive hearing, bringing a close to one of the region's most disturbing child exploitation cases.
The court termed the crimes "rarest of the rare" based on the "unparalleled depravity and systemic nature of their crimes". "Such offences not only destroy the lives of children but also shake the moral foundation of society. Any leniency in such cases would send a dangerous message," it said.
"The sheer scale of this victimisation across multiple districts, combined with the extreme moral turpitude of the convicts, marks this as a crime of such an exceptional and heinous nature that it leaves no room for reformation, necessitating the ultimate judicial deterrent to meet the ends of justice," the Pocso court added.
The investigation revealed that the convicts, Ram Bhavan, a former Junior Engineer at the state's Irrigation Department, and his wife, Durgavati, remained active in the Banda and Chitrakoot regions between 2010 and 2020. Bhavan used to lure children by giving them access to online video games and/or offering them money or gifts, and would sexually abuse them at his rented accommodation with the help of his wife.
The prosecutor said as per court records, the accused threatened the minors over several years, subjecting them to both physical and mental abuse, with derogatory material allegedly being used for blackmail and other criminal activities.
During searches at their residence, the CBI recovered Rs 8 lakh in cash, 12 mobile phones, two laptops, a hard disk and six pen drives. Forensic examination of the seized devices confirmed the presence of large volumes of child sexual abuse material. The agency said the videos and images were circulated and sold to buyers, including foreign nationals, through encrypted platforms and darknet channels.
Durgavati was additionally accused of attempting to influence witnesses during the investigation. A man from Delhi was also arrested in connection with the case, and a further probe remains underway.
The CBI filed a charge sheet against Ram Bhavan and his wife in 2021, within months after their arrest. Charges against the couple were framed in 2023 and during the years-long trial, the prosecution examined a total of 74 witnesses.
Investigation revealed that the survivors suffered multiple injuries, especially to their private parts. Some of them continue to be in the hospital, while a few of them developed squint eye. Moreover, the survivors are struggling with severe psychological trauma.
The Pocso court has directed the state government and departments concerned to take concrete steps for the rehabilitation, psychological treatment and secure future of the survivors. Additionally, the court asked authorities to provide Rs 10 lakh financial assistance to families of the identified survivors.