Thane man convicted of sexually assaulting 6-year-old girl; sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment

THANE: A special court in Thane under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act convicted a 48-year-old man from Wagle Estate for the sexual assault of a six-year-old child, sentencing him to two decades of rigorous imprisonment.

Judge DS Deshmukh also ordered the convict, Anwar Babu Sheikh, to pay Rs 10,000 in fines, which will be awarded to the survivor as compensation. The court’s decision came after the prosecution successfully proved all charges under the POCSO Act and Indian Penal Code.Prosecutor Sandhya Mhatre presented evidence showing that the April 2022 incident occurred when the child was playing near her home. The accused, a neighbour, enticed the child into his residence where the assault took place. The case came to light when the child disclosed the incident to her mother, prompting an immediate police complaint. The prosecution’s case was strengthened by the child’s testimony, medical evidence, and witness accounts.The trial featured testimony from ten prosecution witnesses, including the young survivor. A crucial witness, a neighbour, confirmed seeing the child enter and exit the accused’s home, supporting the survivor’s account.

Constable Sushant Shelar provided consistent support to the prosecution throughout the legal proceedings.In delivering the verdict, Judge Deshmukh noted that the prosecution established guilt beyond reasonable doubt, justifying the conviction and substantial punishment under POCSO provisions. The judge pointed to the importance of the survivor’s courageous testimony and the corroborating medical reports in securing this conviction. Judge Deshmukh referred the case to the District Legal Services Authority for additional compensation consideration.