BANDA, UTTAR PRADESH – In a landmark judgment, a special POCSO court in Banda on Friday (February 20, 2026) awarded the death penalty to a suspended junior engineer and his wife for the systematic sexual exploitation of dozens of minor children. The couple was found guilty of recording the horrific acts and selling the material to international buyers on the dark web.
The court, presided over by Special Judge Pradeep Kumar Mishra, categorized the crimes as “rarest of rare,” citing the “unparalleled depravity” and the organized nature of the abuse that spanned over a decade.
The Convicts and the Crimes
The primary accused, Ram Bhavan (48), was a junior engineer in the Irrigation Department who used his position and resources to target vulnerable children. His wife, Durgavati (45), was convicted of active complicity, including threatening witnesses and concealing evidence of the crimes.
- Timeline: The abuse occurred between 2010 and 2020 across the districts of Banda, Chitrakoot, and Hamirpur.
- Modus Operandi: The couple lured children, some as young as three years old with the promise of mobile games, gifts, and money.
- The Scale: Investigators identified 33 victims, though evidence suggests as many as 50 children may have been targeted. Forensic experts recovered 34 videos and nearly 700 photographs from the couple’s devices.
- Global Distribution: The CBI revealed that the couple sold this material to buyers in 47 countries via encrypted platforms and darknet channels.
A Comprehensive Verdict
The court found the duo guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the POCSO Act, and the Information Technology (IT) Act. Key charges included:
- Aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
- Production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
- Criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
“Such offences not only destroy the lives of children but also shake the moral foundation of society. Any leniency would send a dangerous message,” the court observed during the sentencing.
Justice and Rehabilitation
Beyond the capital punishment, the court issued significant directives aimed at victim relief:
- Financial Compensation: The state government has been ordered to provide ₹10 lakh in financial assistance to each of the 33 identified victims.
- Seized Assets: A sum of ₹8.27 lakh in cash, seized from the couple’s residence during the CBI raid in 2020, will be distributed equally among the victims.
- Rehabilitation: The court directed authorities to ensure long-term psychological counseling and medical support for the survivors, many of whom still suffer from severe trauma and physical injuries.
The Investigation
The case was cracked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe in October 2020. The agency utilized advanced digital forensics and international coordination to trace the dark web transactions. During the trial, the prosecution presented 74 witnesses, including 25 of the victims, whose testimonies were instrumental in securing the conviction.
While the defense has indicated plans to appeal the verdict in the High Court, the ruling stands as one of the strictest ever delivered in a case of online child exploitation in India.
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