MP: Major court verdict in Bhopal case of sexual exploitation of minors… 78-year-old Pyare Miyan sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms

Bhopal. In a case involving the sexual exploitation of minor girls in Bhopal, a special POCSO court has sentenced Pyare Miyan—a newspaper owner—to 10 consecutive life terms. According to reports, the court has also imposed a fine of Rs 77.64 lakh on him. His associate, Rabia Bi, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the same case. According to the prosecution, Pyare Miyan was found guilty of the rape and sexual exploitation of five minor girls.

Accused of luring victims with job offers
According to the prosecution, 78-year-old Pyare Miyan had been targeting minor girls since 2014. It is alleged that he would lure the girls by promising them jobs with a monthly salary of Rs 10,000, only to subject them to sexual exploitation and rape. His associate, Rabia Bi, was also found guilty of aiding him in these crimes.

Case came to light during counseling
The matter surfaced on July 11, 2020. According to the prosecution, one of the victims disclosed the sexual exploitation she had endured during a counseling session. She recounted being invited to a flat in the Shahpura area of ​​Bhopal under the pretext of celebrating a birthday.

The victim alleged that she was forced to consume alcohol, after which Pyare Miyan sexually assaulted her. Subsequently, other minor girls also came forward, revealing similar instances of exploitation.

Life imprisonment across eight counts
According to a prosecution official, the special POCSO court handed down the sentences under various sections of the POCSO Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He has been sentenced to life imprisonment until death in eight cases, and to life imprisonment in two other cases. All these sentences will run concurrently.

According to public prosecutor PN Singh Rajput, the police arrested Pyare Miyan following an investigation into the matter. Subsequently, proceedings were also initiated against Rabia Bi and other associates. Upon the charges being proven, the court sentenced Pyare Miyan to life imprisonment 10 times over.