A special court in Maharashtra’s Latur district on Wednesday sentenced a 46-year-old man, Govindrao Koli, to three years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him for sexually assaulting a minor girl, news agency PTI reported, quoting the police.
Judge SV Jadhav also imposed a fine of Rs 4,000 on Koli.
According to court records, a woman had lodged a complaint in 2022 alleging that Koli had assaulted her minor daughter. The MIDC Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The prosecution presented statements of the survivor, medical evidence, and other documents, with Special Public Prosecutor MS Mahindrakar handling the arguments, police said. Woman police constable BT Hingde coordinated the case proceedings.
After considering the evidence and submissions, the court held Koli guilty and sentenced him to three years’ rigorous imprisonment.
Thane court sentences man to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting 13-year-old
A special POCSO court in Thane has sentenced Saddam Akkach Molla to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2021, describing the crime as “heinous” and saying it deserved no leniency, PTI reported.
Although the DNA report of the accused did not match the victim’s foetus, Additional Sessions Judge DS Deshmukh said sufficient oral and documentary evidence proved the sexual assault.
Molla was convicted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000, directing that the amount, if recovered, be paid to the victim.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred in May 2021 in Kashimira, Thane district. Molla intercepted the minor on her way to tuition classes, lured her to his house under the pretext of needing help to write a letter in Hindi, and sexually assaulted her, PTI reported.
The crime came to light in August 2021 when the victim complained of severe stomach pain and was subsequently found to be pregnant.
It also surfaced during the trial that the victim had been assaulted by two individuals in separate incidents, and the police registered two cases.
The defence argued for acquittal, pointing out that the DNA report of the accused did not match the foetus.
The judge, however, dismissed this contention, relying on the consistent testimony of the victim and medical evidence.
Though the DNA report of the accused did not match with the foetus, it can not be said that he has not sexually assaulted the victim, when there is sufficient oral and documentary evidence against him, it observed.
(With PTI inputs)