Thane Court Sentences 54-Year-Old Man to 20 Years for Assaulting Minor Girl
Thane, 9th July 2024: A 54-year-old man has been handed a 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence by a Thane court for sexually assaulting a minor girl who regarded him as her maternal uncle. The court condemned the act as abhorrent and in need of severe punishment. The man, a cook from Ahmednagar, was found guilty of rape, criminal intimidation, and breaching the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The allegations against the man were presented by Special Public Prosecutor Rekha Hiwrale, who stated that the victim, aged 16 at the time, lived with her father and brothers in Manpada, Thane. The accused, posing as a foster maternal uncle, began assaulting her in September 2017, eventually raping her when her father was incapacitated. He stifled her cries and threatened her to keep silent.
Upon the victim’s complaint, an FIR was filed on June 16, 2018. The court labelled the man’s actions as despicable and emphasized that his betrayal of trust as a figure of authority in the girl’s life was unacceptable. The judgment highlighted the need for a strong message against such behaviour in society, ordering a fine of Rs 22,000 to be paid to the victim for her rehabilitation.
