A 70-year-old man from Pathardi, under the Indiranagar police station jurisdiction in Nashik, has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment by District and Additional Sessions Court Judge Kalpana Patil for molesting a minor girl. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday after the court found him guilty under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Fine and Additional Jail Term
Judge Patil also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict. The court kept a provision for an additional jail term of three months if the convict fails to pay the fine. Special Public Prosecutor Sulabha Sangle confirmed the details of the sentencing.
Charges Under IPC and POCSO Act
The man was found guilty under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 354(A) (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the IPC, and Section 8 (punishment for sexual assault) of the POCSO Act.
Incident Details
The 70-year-old man was the landlord of the property where the 12-year-old victim and her family lived as tenants. On October 20, 2021, the girl returned home from school. The man called her to his room under the pretext of helping him switch on the television. When the victim was operating the television, the landlord shut the door, pulled her towards him, and molested her. The girl screamed and called for her mother, eventually managing to escape.
Threats and Complaint
After the incident, the man threatened the girl with dire consequences if she informed her mother. However, the victim gathered courage and told her mother about the assault. A complaint was subsequently lodged at the Indiranagar police station, leading to the man's arrest. He was later granted bail due to his health condition.
Investigation and Trial
The case was investigated by Assistant Inspector N A Sayyad, who was then attached to the Indiranagar police station. The trial concluded with the conviction and sentencing of the accused. The court's decision underscores the strict legal provisions against child sexual abuse.
