Thane court sentences fisherman to 20 years for sexually assaulting minor

A special POCSO court in Thane has sentenced a fisherman to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 15yearold girl after misleading her with a false promise of marriage noting that he had concealed his marital status from the victim reported news agency PTIPOCSO Act aims to curb sexual offences against childrenThe POCSO Act is designed to protect children from sexual offences by prescribing stringent punishments aimed at curbing the menace addressing such crimes effectively and deterring similar criminal behaviour Special Court Judge Ruby U Malvankar noted in the order passed on Tuesday reported PTIThe prosecution told the court that the victim then aged 15 who worked as a domestic help and fish cleaner at Uttan in Maharashtras Thane district met the accused Manoj Navasha Shanvar in August 2022 reported PTIAccused concealed marriage to exploit victimShanvar a fisherman gained her trust by professing love and promising marriage The accused was already married with two children a fact he intentionally concealed to exploit the victimThe accused sexually assaulted the victim on multiple occasions from August 2022 to September 2023 following which she became pregnantAccused refused responsibility issued threatsWhen the victim informed the accused about her pregnancy he revealed his marital status refused to accept her and issued threats reported PTIThe victim subsequently underwent a medical termination of pregnancy at 22 weeksConsent obtained by deception amounts to rape CourtThe accused was convicted under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act and the Indian Penal CodeThe court said the accused had apparently not disclosed his marital status to the victim reported PTIHad it been so disclosed perhaps the victim would have never indulged in such relations with him it observedTherefore her consent was clearly obtained by deception and hence the sexual relations fall into the definition of rape under Section 375 of IPC it saidStricter punishment needed to deter such crimesIt was the accused who developed a romantic relationship with the victim by giving her an allurement that he would marry her even as he knew that he would not be able to fulfil the promise being already married and a father to two children the court notedThe POCSO Act aims at providing protection to children from sexual offences and therefore stronger and stricter punishments are provided to ensure that the menace is curbed addressed and such criminal tendencies are controlled it added reported PTIFine imposed victim to get compensationAlong with the 20year sentence the court also imposed a collective fine of Rs 6000 on the accused for various offences and directed that the amount be given to the victimIt also directed additional compensation to the victim under the Manodhairya SchemeWith inputs from PTI