A special Pocso court in Mumbai on Friday sentenced a 35-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the sexual assault of an 11-year-old boy in 2021. The incident occurred during a religious festival when the accused forcibly took the victim to his residence.
Court Verdict and Evidence
Special Judge Nitin D Khose delivered the verdict, relying on the consistent testimony of the child and medical evidence confirming the assault. The judge stated, "The prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed penetrative sexual assault on the victim boy." However, the court noted that the prosecution failed to prove that the assault occurred more than once.
Prosecution's Case
According to the prosecution, on February 16, 2021, the victim was watching a dance performance at a religious function in his neighborhood. The accused caught the boy's hand and forcibly took him to his nearby residence. The boy managed to escape and returned home in distress, narrating the ordeal to his mother.
Defense Arguments Rejected
During the trial, the defense argued that the accused was falsely implicated and suggested that the injuries noted in the medical report could have resulted from a fall. However, the judge rejected these contentions, noting that the medical officer's findings were consistent with the victim's account of the assault.
The verdict comes five years after the incident, bringing closure to the victim and his family. This case highlights the importance of swift justice in child sexual abuse cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
