A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced Shyam Bihari to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl, besides imposing a fine of Rs 1.43 lakh on him, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Saturday. The Special Judge, POCSO Act, Mathura, convicted him on October 30 for multiple offences under the POCSO Act, 2012, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. The victim is not being identified, in line with the law protecting minor victims.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

The offences included rape, aggravated penetrative sexual assault, using a child for pornographic purposes and storing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), the CBI said. According to the agency, it registered the case on June 17, 2025, against Shyam Bihari following allegations of collecting, transmitting and publishing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitative Material (CSAEM) in electronic form. During the investigation, it emerged that he had also committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault against a minor girl; the CBI traced the victim and said it conducted the investigation keeping her safety, dignity and emotional well-being in mind.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

Chargesheet in two months, verdict in about 17 months

After completing the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against the accused on August 14, 2025, and the trial court framed charges on October 16, 2025, Nation Press reported, citing the CBI. Following the trial, the court found Shyam Bihari guilty of the offences and awarded him life imprisonment with the fine for the cumulative offences under the POCSO Act, IPC and IT Act.

Source: Nation Press

The CBI said the investigation and prosecution of crimes involving the sexual exploitation and abuse of children are among its top priorities. No details identifying the minor victim have been published in any of the reports.