Bhubaneswar: A month after being sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by a Special Children Court in the infamous Pari murder case, Saroj Sethi has moved the Orissa High Court to challenge the verdict.
Sethi, convicted for the abduction and murder of 5-year-old Pari, lodged the appeal through his counsel, contesting the decision made by the Nayagarh Additional District and Sessions Judge and Special POCSO court on February 6. The POCSO court in Nayagarh had earlier sentenced Sethi to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine on him. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional one-year imprisonment, as per the court’s order.
The trial, which garnered widespread attention, saw meticulous examination of scientific, electronic, and circumstantial evidence due to the absence of eyewitnesses. A total of 31 individuals were examined during the proceedings, with 135 exhibits and 18 material objects related to the offense submitted before the trial court.
Pari, the daughter of rickshaw-puller Ashok Sahu, was abducted while playing near her residence in Nayagarh’s Jadupur village on July 14, 2020. Her skeletal remains were discovered in a gunny bag in nearby bushes ten days later. The case gained prominence when Pari’s parents attempted self-immolation in front of the state Assembly in Bhubaneswar on November 24, 2020, demanding justice for their daughter.
In December 2020, the special investigation team (SIT) constituted by the state government made a breakthrough by arresting the primary suspect, believed to be a juvenile at the time.
Arun Bothra, who led the SIT, revealed details of the investigation, stating that Pari had visited the accused’s house to collect berries on the fateful day. Finding himself alone at home, the accused took advantage of the situation and attempted to assault Pari. When she resisted, he allegedly strangled her to death. The accused confessed to the crime, leading to the filing of charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The appeal filed by Sethi marks the latest development in the legal proceedings surrounding the tragic case, further prolonging the quest for justice for Pari and her grieving family.
