On Wednesday, a 32 year old man was convicted and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment under the POCSO Act. The man has assaulted a 9 year old girl repeatedly.
The girl’s ordeal was revealed in the year 2013. In public prosecutor, Usha Jadhav’s deposition before the court, in 2013, the victim’s mother said while they were returning from a vacation in Bhusawal, there was a fire on the train in which the girl sustained injuries on her stomach and back. Later the girl was admitted to a hospital in the city. The man had molested her even while she was undergoing such treatment.
The mother explained that the girl was later shifted to the sixth floor in the hospital via elevator where the accused was present. After reaching the ward, the girl told her mother that she has been molested in the elevator. The mother lodged a complaint against the man with the cops. Initially, the cops booked the accused on molestation charges.
On August 12, 2013, the girl’s statement was recorded which revealed that when she was a child, the accused used to give her biscuits and toffees to take her to his house. She had been assaulted repeatedly in his house and he had threatened to kill her if she discloses the incident to anyone. The charges against the accused were enhanced and he was also booked for assault.
When the girl deposed in court as a 15 year old, the court noticed her crying and pointed out that she was ill and still deposed in court. During the cross examination by the defense, the victim denied allegations that when she was a child there were frequent quarrels between her mother and the accused. She also denied that the police had told her what to say in the court.
