The conviction of Sumit Shakya under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act saw him handed a life‑sentence and fines of Rs 1 lakh for aggravated sexual assault and Rs 20,000 for criminal intimidation. The court also fixed a compensation of Rs 10.5 lakh for the victim, a 10‑year‑old girl who was seven when the assault happened.
Judge Rajni Ranga, Additional Sessions Judge‑01 (POCSO) in Rohini, wrote a personal note to the child after hearing her plea: she asked that the man, whom she called “uncle”, remain in jail until he grows old, and the judge responded that he will live in a cage for the rest of his life. The note praised her courage and promised that the man would never again be able to harm a child.
The Delhi High Court, on 22 September 2026, directed the North‑West Delhi District Legal Services Authority to print the letter and hand it to the girl or her family within two weeks, together with the compensation. The bench also asked the DLSA Secretary to submit a report on the status of the payment, to be heard on 4 November 2026.
The girl, now ten, has returned to school after the assault and is gradually reclaiming her childhood. Her mother reports that the court’s acknowledgment has given her daughter a sense of closure, though the trauma remains.
The next hearing is scheduled for 20 January 2027, where the appeal will once again be listed and the status of the compensation will be scrutinized. The case underscores the judiciary’s willingness to blend procedural certainty with a human touch in child‑sexual‑violence matters.