NAVI MUMBAI: The Alibaug district and sessions court has convicted and sentenced a 30-year-old man from a village in Alibaug taluka to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with Rs 1 lakh fine, for raping a 13-year-old girl residing in his locality, twice.
The girl had revealed her ordeal to her grandmother and an FIR was registered against accused Pawar at Alibaug police station, where he was booked under IPC section 376 and POCSO Act. Pawar was arrested and has been lodged at Alibaug prison since April. After a charge sheet was filed against Pawar, the court trial began in June and public prosecutor Bhushan Salvi produced eight witnesses before the Alibaug special additional sessions court judge.
The judge considered the testimony of the victim girl, her friend, a medical officer and the investigating police officer. This led to Pawar’s sentencing to 20 years and a Rs 1 lakh fine, which will be given as compensation to the girl.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
