Representative image showing a gavel.
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Thane: A special court in Maharashtra's Thane district has sentenced a man to three years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl.
Special judge Ruby U Malvankar convicted the accused, Amarnath Bechu Yadav, of charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The court sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000.
A copy of the order, dated March 13, was made available on Monday.
Incidentally, only three witnesses, including the victim, her mother and the investigating officer were examined to prove the charges against the accused.
Special public prosecutor Varsha Chandane told the court that the girl's mother alleged that on May 18, 2019, the accused followed the child, picked her up, and touched her inappropriately.
The girl cried out, prompting the accused to flee, she said.
The court noted that the incident, the accused's subsequent conduct, and the victim's testimony established the commission of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
The court convicted Yadav under section 7 read with 8 of the POCSO Act and section 354A(1)(i) (sexual harassment) of the IPC.
The court ordered that the fine be paid to the victim as compensation. Additionally, the case was recommended to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Thane, for awarding compensation to the victim under the Manodhairya Scheme.