A court in Pune has delivered a stern verdict in a harrowing child sexual abuse case from 2018, sentencing a 32-year-old man to rigorous life imprisonment for the kidnapping and rape of a four-year-old girl. The conviction was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge SB Shelar in Junnar.
The Horrific Incident and Swift Arrest
The crime occurred in broad daylight, around 1 pm on April 20, 2018, in a village within the Junnar tehsil of Pune district. The survivor's family, originally from Nepal, was residing in the village where her father worked as a cook at a local eatery.
On the fateful day, the young girl was playing outside her home when the accused, then aged 25, lured her away by offering her a mango. He took the child to a public toilet near the market yard and sexually assaulted her. As the family frantically searched for the missing girl, her maternal uncle spotted the accused with the child and immediately brought her back home.
Court's Reliance on Corroborative Evidence
After the girl narrated the traumatic incident to her parents, a formal complaint was lodged at the Junnar police station. The prosecution built a strong case supported by multiple witnesses and forensic evidence. A woman from the neighbourhood testified that she saw the accused with the girl, a crucial piece of evidence that established the 'last seen' theory.
In its order dated December 29, the court acknowledged that the survivor, due to her tender age and the passage of time, could not recall the incident in detail. However, the judge ruled this was natural and did not weaken the case, which stood firmly on other pillars of evidence.
The court placed reliance on:
- The testimony of the medical officer who examined the victim.
- Eyewitness accounts, including that of the maternal uncle and the neighbour.
- Forensic and documentary evidence presented during the trial.
Judge's Stern Remarks and Final Sentence
While pronouncing the quantum of punishment, Judge SB Shelar showed no leniency, emphasizing the gravity of the offence. The court noted that the aggravating circumstances far outweighed any mitigating factors.
"The accused committed the said act in broad daylight in a public place, taking disadvantage of the incapacitated minor," the judge observed. "The act of the accused has shaken the collective conscience of the society and it warrants equivalent punishment."
Apart from the life sentence for rape, the court also sentenced the convict to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for the offence of kidnapping under the Indian Penal Code. The sentences are to run concurrently. The court exercised its discretion against announcing a separate sentence under the stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as the life term was deemed sufficient.
This verdict underscores the judiciary's firm stance against crimes targeting the most vulnerable sections of society, especially children, and serves as a reminder of the legal consequences for such heinous acts.
