ASHOK KUMAR GUPTA vs ATUL PANDEY @ BABLOO

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the accused under Section 376 IPC for the rape of a minor girl, emphasizing the need for stringent punishment in such cases. The Court found that the High Court's sentence of three years was inadequate given the severity of the crime and the age of the victim, who was under ten years old. The Court directed that the accused be sentenced to the minimum punishment prescribed under the law, reinforcing the principle that the gravity of sexual offenses against minors necessitates harsher penalties.