A kidnapping case was registered, followed by rape charges under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO). Law and consequenceEnacted as a dedicated law to combat child sexual abuse, POCSO defines a “child” as any person below the age of 18 and criminalises all sexual acts involving them. As a result, even consensual, non-exploitative sexual relationships between adolescents fall within its ambit, often attracting stringent mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years, which can extend to life imprisonment. However, Ramakrishnan notes that many families file POCSO complaints without fully grasping what the process entails. Around the same time, a close friend found himself facing charges under POCSO after his partner’s parents, who opposed their inter-caste relationship, filed a criminal complaint.

Source: The Hindu February 27, 2026 12:31 UTC