A special court in Ghaziabad dedicated to cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has delivered a significant verdict, sentencing a man to six years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to sexually assault a seven-year-old girl. The incident dates back to the year 2020.
Court Delivers Verdict and Rehabilitation Order
Presiding over the case, Special Judge Neeraj Gautam pronounced the convict guilty on Thursday. The judgment was based on charges under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, and the more stringent Section 10 of the POCSO Act, pertaining to aggravated sexual assault.
In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a financial penalty of Rs 30,000 on the convicted individual. Demonstrating a focus on victim welfare, the judge directed that Rs 20,000 from this fine be allocated specifically for the rehabilitation of the young survivor.
Details of the 2020 Incident and Police Case
The legal proceedings stemmed from a First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Modinagar police station on May 5, 2020. The complaint was filed by the minor girl's mother. According to the allegations presented in court, a neighbour lured the child with Rs 10, ostensibly to buy cheese.
He then took her to a secluded spot, disrobed her, and attempted to outrage her modesty. The attempt was thwarted when another neighbour arrived at the location, prompting the accused to flee. Based on the mother's complaint, the police initially invoked IPC Section 354 and Sections 9/10 of the POCSO Act.
Legal Proceedings and Defence Arguments
The special POCSO court later framed more severe charges against the accused on February 22, 2021, including Section 376AB of the IPC (punishment for rape on a woman under twelve years of age) and Sections 5/6 of the POCSO Act.
Throughout the trial, the accused denied all allegations. His defence claimed he was falsely implicated in a fabricated case with the motive of extorting money. He attributed the case to a prior quarrel between the complainant's elder brother and himself. During her testimony, the minor victim also disclosed an additional harrowing detail, stating that the accused had forced her to touch his private parts, an act she had initially omitted from her court statement.
After evaluating all evidence and testimonies, the court found the prosecution's case credible beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction and the subsequent sentencing. This verdict underscores the judiciary's firm stance on crimes against children and the importance of specialized courts in delivering timely justice in POCSO cases.
