16
Court decision: The verdict came after eight years in the rape case of a minor girl in Thane, Maharashtra. A Thane court has sentenced an accused to three years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl in 2017.
Court decision: The verdict came after eight years in the rape case of a minor girl in Thane, Maharashtra. A Thane court has sentenced an accused to three years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl in 2017. The court said that such crimes should be dealt with strictly to send a clear message to the society. Additional Sessions Judge DS Deshmukh, in his judgment on Friday, held the 38-year-old accused guilty of various offenses under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. However, while pronouncing the sentence, the judge took a lenient view keeping in mind the family background of the accused, as he prayed that he had no criminal history and there was no one to take care of his family.
The incident happened on October 24, 2017
The incident took place on October 24, 2017. The victim was 12 years old at the time and was alone in the lift of a residential complex in Mira Road area of Thane district of Maharashtra. Special public prosecutor Sanjay Londhe told the court that the accused was a neighbor of the victim. He entered the elevator and closed the door. After this the accused sexually harassed the girl. The victim’s mother testified that the frightened girl immediately informed her about the incident. The prosecution’s case was based primarily on the testimony of the victim, which was corroborated by the statement of her mother. The court said that in various judgments it has been held that in cases of sexual assault, the sole testimony of the victim would be sufficient to convict the accused of the crime. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that the victim had not immediately informed the watchman about the incident. This was a conspiracy by the victim to defame the accused.
A fine of Rs 5,000 was also imposed on the accused.
On this, the court said that the testimony of the victim itself inspires confidence in the act committed by the accused. Especially when at the time of the incident the accused found her alone in the lift to satisfy his lust. The judge concluded that acts of sexual harassment should be taken seriously and such crimes should be dealt with strictly. The judge said that the purpose of the punishment given is to send a clear message to the society. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the accused and directed that this fine be given as compensation to the victim. The court recommended sending the case to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for provision of additional compensation to the victim.
Also read: Big action in the famous double suicide case of Itanagar: Special Secretary of Delhi Government Pottom arrested
