A special POCSO court in Thane district of Maharashtra has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping his 8-year-old niece. The criminal had made the victim a victim of his lust on several occasions in the year 2020. The court has also imposed a fine of one thousand rupees on him.
Judge VL Bhosale, in his order on January 6, said that there is no reason to sentence the 56-year-old criminal more than the prescribed minimum sentence. He has been convicted under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO Act). On this basis he has been sentenced.
The court pronounced its verdict after considering the age of the victim and the accused, the manner of commission of the sexual offense and the highly objectionable and shameful conduct. The criminal lived in Nayanagar of Mira Road area of ​​Thane. Special public prosecutor Varsha Chandane told the court that the victim and the accused are relatives.
In the year 2020, the victim’s mother had sent her to live in the house of a criminal relative. During this period, between March and June 2020, he raped the girl at home on several occasions. The victim’s mother had gone to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, but could not return to her home due to the lockdown due to Corona.
Meanwhile, the victim went to another relative’s house, where she narrated her ordeal. Later his mother returned and came to know about the crime. He immediately filed a complaint against his relative in the local police station. On the basis of this, FIR was registered against the accused under IPC and POCSO Act.
The judge also said in his order that considering the serious nature of the crime and the mental trauma suffered by the minor victim, she should be compensated. Along with this, the court directed that this matter should be sent to the District Legal Services Authority, so that a decision on compensation can be taken.