A special court in Banda held that a life sentence would be inadequate for a couple who sexually abused and filmed more than 30 children to sell the videos online, observing that there was no possibility of their reformation. Delivering the verdict on February 20, Judge Pradeep Kumar Mishra sentenced Ram Bhavan, a former junior engineer with the state government, and his wife Durgawati to be “hanged till death”.
The court placed the case in the “rarest of rare” category — the threshold required for capital punishment — under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. It cited the magnitude, brutality and prolonged nature of the crimes. The judge noted that the calculated manner in which the offences were committed left “no room for reformation” and that the gravity of the acts warranted the maximum penalty prescribed by law.
“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,” the court observed, adding that the scale of victimisation across districts and the extreme depravity involved made the crime exceptionally heinous.
In addition to the death sentence, the court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay ₹10 lakh in compensation to each of the 33 identified victims.
A decade-long abuse racket
According to the prosecution, the crimes took place between 2010 and 2020 and involved the systematic exploitation of at least 33 — and possibly up to 50 — minor boys, many from economically vulnerable families. Ram Bhavan, who worked as a junior engineer in the irrigation department, allegedly lured children to his home with gifts such as mobile phones, chocolates and watches, along with access to internet and online games.
Investigators said the abuse was recorded and circulated through encrypted platforms and the dark web — a concealed segment of the internet that enables anonymous activity. Buyers of the videos were traced to at least 47 countries.
The case came to light after Interpol flagged three mobile numbers allegedly linked to the online sale of abusive material, prompting Uttar Pradesh Police to register a case in 2020. Searches at the couple’s residence reportedly led to the seizure of eight mobile phones, a laptop, sex toys and a pen drive containing videos of over 30 children and nearly 700 photographs.
Lasting trauma
The court also took into account the long-term physical and psychological impact on the survivors. Investigators said some children suffered injuries and continue to face deep emotional trauma. The judge observed that the abuse inflicted “severe physical and psychological harm” and stressed that the sustained nature of the crimes over a decade compounded the damage.
POCSO enforcement and pending cases
The sentencing comes amid broader scrutiny of how effectively India is handling child sexual abuse cases under POCSO. A recent report by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB) for Children noted that in 2025, for the first time, more POCSO cases were disposed of nationally than newly registered, marking a significant shift in case clearance rates.
However, the report highlighted that Uttar Pradesh continues to account for a large share of long-pending cases. It recommended the establishment of additional e-POCSO courts to reduce the backlog and ensure timely, child-sensitive justice.
The Banda court, in its ruling, underscored that swift and firm punishment in such cases is essential not only for justice to survivors but also as a deterrent against crimes that undermine the safety and dignity of children. (Agencies)
