Gandhinagar, Sep 10: Gujarat courts have delivered 1,785 verdicts in cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act between 2022 and August 2026, with 908 accused sentenced to life imprisonment and 16 handed death sentences, according to figures released by the state government.

The pace of proceedings has also strengthened, with police filing chargesheets in most POCSO cases within 45 days and fast-track courts taking up cases for early trial.

In one recent case in Kalol, a Special POCSO Court sentenced a 42-year-old man to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life within 72 hours of the police filing the chargesheet in connection with the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.

The number of judgments rose from 194 in 2022 to 499 in 2025. In the first eight months of 2026, courts have already delivered 346 judgments, including 241 life sentences and two death sentences.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the state had adopted a “zero-tolerance” approach towards sexual offences against children and is working to ensure that victims and their families did not have to wait for years for justice.

“There can be no mercy or leniency for anyone who casts an evil eye on girls in Gujarat. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government has established fast-track courts and a robust legal framework for POCSO cases. As a result, victims and their families are now receiving speedy justice—not in months or years, but within a matter of days,” Sanghavi said.

Referring to the Kalol case, he said the verdict within 72 hours of the filing of the chargesheet reflected the quality of investigation by the Gujarat Police and the approach of the judiciary.

“Reaching a verdict within just 72 hours of the filing of a chargesheet is the result of the excellent and scientific investigation carried out by the Gujarat Police and the strict and commendable approach of the judiciary. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Gujarat Police and the judiciary. Our clear resolve is to ensure that such offenders receive the strictest possible punishment, setting a strong example for society,” he said.

Director General of Police (DGP), G.S. Malik, said investigations into POCSO cases are being conducted with sensitivity while maintaining speed and strictness.

“To ensure speedy justice for victims and their families, the police are particularly focussing on a three-pronged approach of ‘thorough investigation, strict action and speedy justice’ during the investigation process,” Malik said.

According to the police, each POCSO case is being monitored to ensure that chargesheets are filed promptly and cases are transferred to fast-track courts without unnecessary delay.

Over the past five years, chargesheets were filed within one to 15 days in 140 POCSO cases, while investigations were completed within 16 to 30 days in 1,339 cases.

Another 5,463 cases saw chargesheets filed within 31 to 45 days.

The figures indicate that a large majority of POCSO investigations are being completed within the 45-day period, allowing trials to commence sooner and courts to decide cases at a faster pace.

Pune, Sep 10: A group of people have approached the Pune Police seeking action against social media users who allegedly posted derogatory and objectionable comments targeting a woman who had lodged a complaint against social media influencer Santosh Pandit, police said on Thursday.

Pandit has been accused of making allegedly derogatory remarks against Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil and Pune Municipal Corporation corporator Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar.

Following a complaint filed by Sarika Kamble, who works with the Pune Municipal Corporation, a case was registered against Pandit at the Kothrud police station.

The issue took a further turn after members of the Bhau Foundation approached the Kothrud police station on Monday, seeking action against social media users who allegedly targeted Kamble after she filed the complaint against the influencer.

The organisation alleged that Kamble became the target of derogatory remarks and abusive comments on social media simply because she approached the police over remarks that she considered offensive and objectionable.

Tanisha Patil of Bhau Foundation condemned the derogatory and objectionable comments made against Kamble through social media and sought strict action against the trolls.

“We condemn the manner in which derogatory comments have been made through social media. Police should take strict action against such trolls. We will also lodge a complaint with Meta in this regard,” Patil said.

The organisation said that individuals should not be subjected to online abuse or personal attacks for approaching law enforcement authorities and raising concerns over remarks they find offensive. It urged the police to take appropriate action against the social media users involved in the alleged online harassment of Kamble.

The Bhau Foundation said it would also pursue the matter with Meta, the parent company of social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram, seeking action over the allegedly objectionable content targeting Kamble.

Santosh Pandit was arrested from his residence in Pune on September 3 in connection with a case of posting obscene and sexually suggestive content targeting Minister Patil and corporator Mitali Kuldeep Salvekar.

According to the complaint, Pandit allegedly uploaded objectionable posts and videos on his YouTube account, ‘@SantoshPandit6278’, targeting Chandrakant Patil and Mitali Salvekar.

Officials said that legal proceedings are underway, and further details are awaited.

New Delhi, Sep 10: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the plea filed by 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Abu Salem challenging his continued incarceration and seeking release on the ground that he had completed the maximum 25-year sentence after taking into account his undertrial detention and jail-earned remission.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the petition after hearing the matter, which had been reserved for judgment on July 27.

Salem had claimed that his undertrial detention, post-conviction incarceration and jail-earned remission should be taken into account while computing the 25-year sentence, entitling him to release in view of the extradition assurance given by India to Portugal.

Abu Salem, currently lodged in Nashik Road Central Prison, had approached the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court’s refusal to direct his immediate release.

The Bombay High Court, in its judgment pronounced on April 15, dismissed Salem’s plea, holding that the 25-year period fixed by the Supreme Court could not be reduced by ordinary prison remissions.

The High Court had held that the 25-year term constituted the substantive sentence that Salem was required to undergo and was “not a ceiling capable of reduction by application of ordinary prison remissions”.

A Division Bench of Justices A.S. Gadkari and Kamal Khata further held that Salem’s attempt to include “earned remissions” to shorten the 25-year period was “legally unsustainable”.

Salem was extradited from Portugal and brought to India in November 2005. He was arrested and produced before the TADA Court on November 11, 2005, in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. He was convicted in TADA Case No. 1 of 2006 in February 2015 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was subsequently convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case in September 2017 and sentenced to life imprisonment, with both sentences ordered to run concurrently.

The Supreme Court, while upholding his convictions in July 2022, commuted the life sentences to a total sentence of 25 years in view of the solemn sovereign assurance given by the Government of India to Portugal that Salem would not be subjected to imprisonment beyond 25 years.

The apex court had also directed the government to consider remission under Sections 432 and 433 of the CrPC one month prior to completion of the 25-year period.

Before the Bombay High Court, Salem claimed that he had earned nearly three years of remission for good conduct and that, after accounting for his undertrial detention and post-conviction incarceration, he had completed the 25-year period. However, the High Court held that remission earned under prison rules is administrative in nature and “does not ipso facto reduce the sentence imposed by a Court.”

It further observed that the 25-year period would expire in November 2030, reckoning it from his arrest on November 11, 2005. “There is no question the sovereign assurance of 25 years being further reduced on account of remissions earned,” the Bombay High Court said.

It also held that any exercise of statutory remission or reduction below the 25-year period could be considered only in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions, adding that the executive’s duty to pass formal remission orders arises one month before completion of the said period.

Earlier, Salem approached the Supreme Court seeking premature release in terms of the extradition arrangement between India and Portugal.

In February, the top court had allowed him to withdraw that plea with liberty to seek an early hearing of the pending matter before the Bombay High Court.

Salem was extradited from Portugal to India in November 2005 and was subsequently convicted in two cases arising out of the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in both cases, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. In July 2022, the Supreme Court, while upholding his convictions, restricted his imprisonment to 25 years in view of the sovereign assurance given to Portugal.