Updated on: 5th MAY 2023 12:52 PM IST | Mumbai
S S NADAR | news@debotimes.in

MUMBAI: A special Pocso court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a now 32-year-old man to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly sexually assaulting his 5-year-old neighbour who used to visit his house to play with his daughter. The court also fined the accused Rs 17,000.

The accused has been in jail since his arrest on August 19, 2020. The period undergone will be set off against the sentence.

"Under Section 357(a) of CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) the victim be awarded compensation by District Legal Services Authority, Mumbai, under the various Victim Compensation Scheme as per rule," the special judge said.

Among the witnesses cited by special public prosecutors VD More and Sureeta Singh were the child and her mother.

The mother told the court that in 2020 she was residing with her in-laws and husband in a house next to that of the accused. She further said that on August 3, 2020, at 2 pm, her daughter was playing with the daughter of the accused. She said that the child told her that the accused touched her chest and kissed her on her lips.

The mother said that she then went to the mother of the accused and asked her to speak to her son. She said that the mother of the accused assured me that she would talk it over to her son.

The mother further said that after a few days, once again, the accused did a similar act with the child. This time, the child had confided in her grandfather. The child told him about the accused had committed aggravated sexual assault.

The mother said that the grandmother informed her and then they went to the police station. The statement of the mother and child was recorded. The child was sent to the hospital for her medical examination.

In court, the child iterated the version given to the police. She identified the accused who was present in court.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)