Painter sentenced to 10 years of RI

A 51-year-old man was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after being declared guilty of sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl child under the section 5 and 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, by the second additional district and sessions court on Saturday.

Rajesh, a painter, was known to the victim as he was a neighbour of victim’s family residing in Konaje. On July 23, 2016, the victim had gone to the house of Rajesh in order to watch television. Rajesh encashing the absence of his wife and children sexually assaulted the child. The mother of the victim on realising what had happened filed a complaint with Konaje police.

During the trial, the statements of 15 witnesses including the child were recorded. Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Pallavi B R upheld the arguments of special public prosecutor C Venkataramana Swamy and ordered the painter to pay a fine amount of Rs 10,000. The judge also ordered Rs 7,000 to be paid to the victi m as relief. The court also directed district legal services authority to pay compensation to the victim.