Pune: A fast-track court on Monday convicted and sentenced a casual worker (28) to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeated sexual assault on his 14-year-old cousin.Special Judge Aniruddha Gandhi held, “The survivor is a minor and the consent of a minor is no consent at all. Hence, though their sexual intercourse appears consensual, it is an offence under the POCSO Act and the IPC.“According to public prosecutor Anil Kumar Verma, the girl, a standard VII student at the time of the incident in 2021, was subjected to repeated sexual assault by the casual worker, on visiting terms with her family. The matter came to light after the girl shared the details with her mother on Nov 7, 2021. An FIR was lodged on Nov 11 at Chandannagar police station.The prosecution relied on the testimony of the survivor, her mother and grandmother, as well as medical evidence during the trial. The court found the girl’s account to be consistent and trustworthy, noting that her version was corroborated by other evidence on record.Rejecting the defence arguments regarding delay in lodging the FIR, absence of specific dates and alleged inconsistencies, the court held that such factors were not enough to discredit the testimony of a minor survivor.Holding the accused guilty under relevant provisions of the Pocso Act and the IPC, the court imposed the statutory minimum sentence of 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 25,000, on the casual worker. The fine amount would be paid to the survivor.The court also said that accused is lodged in jail since March 6, 2023 and he is entitled for set off.
