The Special POCSO Court (Fast Track Special Court-I) in Cuttack, Odisha, on June 23, 2026, sentenced home tutor Hafiz Nur Artaj — also known as Akhtar or Hafiz Noor Ataraj — to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor male student.
According to LiveLaw, the court also directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Cuttack, to pay ₹4 lakh as compensation to the minor victim, underscoring the gravity of the offence.
Background & Case History
The accused, Hafiz Nur Artaj, was a resident of Purulia, West Bengal, who had been engaged as a private home tutor to teach Urdu to a minor boy in the Cantonment police station area of Cuttack. He was also a teacher at Madrasa Sultania, Buxi Bazar, Cuttack, according to OrissaPost and a Cuttack Police press release.
The alleged offences occurred between August and December 2024, while the accused was teaching Urdu to the victim. The victim’s parent filed a formal complaint at Cantonment Police Station, Cuttack, leading to the registration of Case No. 206 on August 23, 2025, under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, as reported by Pragativadi.
Following the complaint, Investigating Officer Sub-Inspector Motilal Marandi arrested the accused from Bhadrak. The chargesheet was subsequently submitted on October 21, 2025, per reporting by Pragativadi.
- August–December 2024: Aggravated penetrative sexual assault alleged to have been committed by the accused while teaching Urdu to the minor male student.
- August 23, 2025: FIR registered at Cantonment Police Station, Cuttack, as Case No. 206 under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, following a complaint by the victim’s parent.
- October 21, 2025: Chargesheet filed by Investigating Officer SI Motilal Marandi under Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
- June 23, 2026: Conviction and sentencing pronounced by Ad Hoc Additional District and Sessions Judge (FTSC-I) P.K. Das, Cuttack.
Arguments & Submissions
The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Shubh Narayan Das, presented the case before the Fast Track Special Court-I, Cuttack. The prosecution established that the accused had repeatedly sexually assaulted the minor boy under the guise of providing private Urdu tuition, according to Pragativadi.
The investigation was conducted by Sub-Inspector Motilal Marandi of Cantonment Police Station. The Investigating Officer gathered evidence sufficient to frame charges under Section 6 of the POCSO Act — the most stringent provision dealing with aggravated penetrative sexual assault — and filed the chargesheet accordingly.
No submissions from the defence have been separately reported by the sources consulted. The trial concluded with the court being satisfied beyond reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused.
The Ruling: Key Findings
Ad Hoc Additional District and Sessions Judge (FTSC-I) P.K. Das convicted Hafiz Nur Artaj under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, for aggravated penetrative sexual assault, and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, according to Pragativadi and OrissaPost.
The court observed, in words reported by LiveLaw: “the child who should have spent his time in cheerfulness was dealt with animal passion and his dignity was shattered.”
Beyond the custodial sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on the convict, with a default clause of one additional year of rigorous imprisonment should the fine remain unpaid, as reported by Pragativadi and OrissaPost.
In a significant relief measure, the court directed the DLSA, Cuttack, to disburse ₹4 lakh as statutory compensation to the minor victim — an order that reflects the court’s exercise of its powers under the POCSO Act’s victim compensation framework.
Legal Analysis & Implications
Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, deals with punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault. It prescribes a minimum sentence of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, extendable to life imprisonment or the remainder of the convict’s natural life, along with a fine. The court’s sentence of 20 years aligns with the statutory minimum under this provision.
The case also highlights the POCSO Act’s victim compensation mechanism. Courts are empowered to direct the DLSA to provide interim or final compensation to child victims, independent of the criminal sentence — a provision aimed at ensuring holistic rehabilitation of survivors.
The swift timeline from chargesheet to conviction — filed October 21, 2025, and concluded June 23, 2026 — reflects the functioning of the Fast Track Special Court system, which was established specifically to expedite POCSO trials and reduce the ordeal faced by child victims during prolonged proceedings.
Reactions & Stakeholder Response
The Cuttack Police issued a press release highlighting the conviction, signalling institutional satisfaction with the outcome of the investigation conducted by SI Motilal Marandi, as reported by Pragativadi. The swift investigation, arrest from Bhadrak, and timely chargesheet were cited as key factors in securing the conviction.
No separate statements from Bar associations, civil society organisations, or the victim’s family have been reported by the sources consulted at the time of publication.
What’s Next
With the trial court’s verdict now pronounced, the convict has the statutory right to appeal the conviction and sentence before the Orissa High Court. No appeal has been reported as filed at the time of publication.
The DLSA, Cuttack, is expected to process the ₹4 lakh compensation directed by the court for disbursement to the minor victim, in accordance with the court’s order dated June 23, 2026.
Full coverage: LiveLaw. More legal news at The Courtroom.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
