MUMBAI: In a trial that lasted just over three months, a special Pocso court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a 31-year-old man to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting his six-year-old neighbour in 2021. Special Judge A D Deo also fined the accused Rs 26,000. The judge said the child must be granted Rs 50,000 as victim compensation from the Manodhairya Scheme, as per rules.
The speedy trial commenced this February with the mother also deposing as a witness. Among the other witnesses examined by special public prosecutor Jyoti Sawant was the child.
The FIR was lodged on January 10, 2021. The child's mother, informant in the case, told cops that her daughter returned home after playing in the common passage outside the flat at around 9.30pm. The mother said she appeared frightened. The mother further said when she took the child into confidence, she disclosed that the accused did "bad acts" with her. The mother then informed the child's father who in turn dialed 100 and sought police assistance and the accused was arrested.
The child deposed before the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) court last month. In her deposition, she told the court that she had four friends on the floor she lived with her parents. She said she was the only child of her parents and was in the first grade in school.
During her deposition, the court ascertained that she understood the sanctity of the oath and only then it was administered to her. She was kept away from the view of the accused with the help of a screen. Only after the deposition, she identified the accused.
When asked by the prosecution, the child said on the night of the crime, the accused had called her near the elevator, shown her some pictures and sexually assaulted her. She managed to free herself and go home. The child said she then confided in her mother. Later, she was taken to the police station. Her statement was subsequently recorded by a woman officer and she was also taken to the hospital for a medical examination.
During her cross-examination, the child denied that she was deposing falsely. She also denied that her neighbours were scared of her parents and that the accused used to play music loudly.
The accused has been in jail since his arrest.
