Thane court gives 20-year RI to man for sexually assaulting 13-year-old

A Thane court has sentenced a man to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13yearold girl in 2021 which led to her pregnancy observing that the crime was heinous and must be dealt with stringently reported news agency pTIAdditional Sessions Judge3 DS Deshmukh in the judgment on Friday said the act of the 34yearold accused who is married and also has a son has to be viewed seriously and he is not entitled to leniencyThe court convicted the accused Sahid Mohammad Ramzan Hasmi under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act section 5 aggravated penetrative sexual assault and also imposed a fine of Rs 50000 on him reported PTIA copy of the order was received on SundaySpecial Public Prosecutor Sanjay Londge told the court that the victim had lodged a complaint alleging that in May 2021 the accused who resided in her neighbourhood in the Kashimira area here sexually assaulted her after offering to drop her home and later calling her to his house reported PTIThe accused also threatened to kill her if she informed anyone about the offenceThe victim suffered severe stomach pain in July 2021 and a subsequent medical examination in August revealed she was pregnantShe initially informed about the incident to another man Later after her mother took her into confidence she told her about the offence committed by the accusedAfter hearing both sides the judge said the act done by the accused is heinousThe prosecution has proved that the accused had committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on the victim twice due to which she became pregnant and also threatened her the Thane court observed reported PTIThe judge rejected the defences claim that the case was false due to a monetary disputeIn view of the oral evidence of the victim and her mother and also clear documentary evidence the DNA report on record this defence taken by the accused is not acceptable he saidIt is pertinent to note here that for such a lame reason nobody can use his minor child to implicate the person in a false case by levelling such type of allegations the Thane court noted reported PTIRegarding the severity of the crime and sentencing the judge said The act of sexual assault on the child is to be viewed seriously and such offences are to be dealt with stringent mannerIn this case the accused being a married person and having a small son committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on the victim and impregnated her the court said reported PTIThe act of the accused is heinous It has to be viewed seriously Considering the submissions of both sides and the nature of offence the accused is not entitled for leniency it said reported PTIThe court also directed that the fine amount if recovered be given to the victim The case has been recommended to the District Legal Services Authority DLSA for compensation to the victimWith inputs from PTI