Justice prevailed in Banda as a POCSO special judge condemned Ram Bhavan and spouse Durgavati to the death penalty for a litany of child sex crimes under POCSO Act and IPC. Their convictions cover aggravated assaults, pornographic exploitation of minors, and possession of abusive material.
Spanning 2010-2020, the operation victimized 33 children in Banda-Chitrakoot regions, inflicting grievous bodily harm—evident in ongoing medical care—and enduring trauma. Ram Bhavan, employed as a junior irrigation engineer, masterminded the entrapment using online gaming access, cash rewards, and toys.
CBI’s 2020 FIR unraveled the digital trail of dissemination, with charges formalized in 2021 after forensic-medical collaborations. The court’s ‘rarest of rare’ determination reflects the scale of calculated inhumanity.
Victim relief includes state-funded Rs 10 lakh each and shared impounded cash, aiding rehabilitation. This case amplifies demands for policy reforms: mandatory background checks for child-facing roles, AI-driven content monitoring, and nationwide awareness drives to eradicate such evils.