A Thane court has delivered a powerful verdict, sentencing a 35-year-old man, locally known as "Samosawala Uncle," to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the aggravated penetrative sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl. The Special POCSO Court judge emphasised the need to send a stern message to like-minded criminals in society.
Exploitation of Community Trust
Presiding over the case, Judge Ruby U. Malvankar of the Special POCSO Court in Thane pronounced the landmark judgment on January 3, 2026. The accused had gained notoriety and the nickname by frequently feeding neighbourhood children, thereby winning the deep trust of both the children and their families.
The court found that the convict exploited this carefully built proximity. Between January 4 and January 22, 2024, he repeatedly dragged the young victim into his residence to commit the horrific acts. The abuse remained hidden until a vigilant school teacher noticed the child was bleeding and immediately alerted her mother on January 23, 2024.
Legal Presumption of Guilt and Court's Stern Observations
During the trial, the prosecution successfully proved the foundational facts of the crime. This allowed the court to invoke the legal presumption of guilt under Section 29 of the POCSO Act, a presumption the defence failed to rebut.
In a strongly worded judgment, Judge Malvankar highlighted the severe breach of community confidence. She noted the immense physical and mental agony suffered by the victim and stated that the sentence must serve the dual purpose of punishing the perpetrator and deterring others with similar criminal intent.
The judge also dismissed the defence's argument about the lack of eyewitnesses, clarifying that offenders of this nature typically take precautions to ensure their activities are not observed.
Concurrent Sentence and Rehabilitation for Victim
In addition to the 20-year sentence for aggravated penetrative sexual assault, the convict was sentenced to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment for criminal intimidation. The court ordered both terms to run concurrently.
Demonstrating a focus on victim welfare, the court directed that any fines collected from the convict be paid to the victim as compensation. Furthermore, to ensure the child's long-term rehabilitation, Judge Malvankar referred the case to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for additional financial aid under the government's 'Manodhairya' scheme.
