Agra: A special Pocso court in Mathura has sentenced a man to four years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 2014, after finding her testimony and that of an eyewitness credible. The court on Friday also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him, directing that the amount, if recovered, be paid to the survivor as compensation.
During the trial, the prosecution relied on the survivor’s testimony and that of other witnesses, along with medical and school records to establish the assault and her age at the time of the incident.
Her family subsequently lodged a complaint, following which a case was registered under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Sections 7 and 8 of the Pocso Act (sexual assault and punishment for sexual assault).
The convict intercepted the girl while she was on the way to her school and forcibly grabbed her, according to the prosecution. When she raised an alarm, he assaulted her and fled.
The defence claimed that the 32-year-old man had been “falsely implicated because of an old family dispute”. It held that the “survivor’s testimony and that of an eyewitness were credible” and that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt. It said the survivor could also seek additional compensation from the District Legal Services Authority.
However, the court rejected the argument, observing that no concrete evidence had been produced to establish a conspiracy. The court further ordered that failure to pay the fine would invite an additional three months of imprisonment. The convict was taken into custody, and a warrant was issued for his transfer to Mathura district jail.