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‘No mercy for criminals’ : Harsh Sanghvi
Gandhinagar, Gujarat : The impact of the Gujarat government’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy in POCSO cases has come to light from Gandhinagar. A total of 1785 cases have been decided in the POCSO courts of the state between the years 2022 and August 2026. In this, 908 accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment and 16 criminals have been sentenced to death. Efforts are being made in the state to ensure that victims get justice at the earliest through scientific investigation by the police, speedy chargesheet and speedy action in fast track courts.
In addition to collecting scientific evidence in POCSO cases, emphasis is being placed on intensive investigation from start to finish. Recently, in the case of rape of a 15-year-old minor in Kalol, Gandhinagar, the court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment till the end of natural life within just 72 hours of the chargesheet being filed. This speedy action has become an example of integration of investigation and judicial process in POCSO cases in Gujarat.
A total of 1785 verdicts have been given by POCSO courts from the year 2022 to August 2026. Out of these, 908 accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment and 16 to death. In the year 2022, 107 accused were given life imprisonment in 194 verdicts. While in the year 2025, 499 verdicts were given, in which 340 accused were sentenced to life imprisonment. In the first eight months of 2026, 346 verdicts have been delivered and 241 accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment. In August 2026 alone, verdicts were delivered in 48 cases, out of which 35 have been sentenced to life imprisonment.
According to state police chief Gyanendrasinh Malik, the emphasis is on the three-pronged approach of ‘intensive investigation, strict action and speedy justice’ in such cases. Monitoring is being done to ensure that chargesheets are filed within 45 days in most cases. In the last five years, chargesheets have been filed in 1 to 15 days in 140 POCSO crimes, in 1,339 cases in 16 to 30 days and in 5,463 cases in 31 to 45 days. With a speedy chargesheet, the court trial can start early.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi clearly stated that there can be no mercy or leniency for any person who looks down on daughters in Gujarat. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, fast track courts and a strong legal system have been set up for POCSO cases. He also said that the government is determined to ensure strict punishment to the accused through police-prosecution coordination and speedy investigation. The main objective of this policy of the state government is to strengthen the security of daughters and create fear of law against sexual crimes.
Report – Abhijit Tushar Bhatt (Political Editor)
