Thane: A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment by a Thane Sessions Court for raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter in 2019. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the accused.
Juvenile Justice Act Applied
He was also sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, along with a fine of Rs 1,000. The court passed the orders with stringent remarks, maintaining that the accused, as the victim's stepfather, became a predator instead of a protector.
Court Condemns Step-Parent Abuse
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“Admittedly, the accused is the stepfather of the victim. It is his duty to protect her from the evils of society and to provide everything necessary to the child, fulfilling all her needs promptly. Instead of fulfilling his responsibility, the accused became a predator and sexually exploited his daughter. This act on the part of the accused is heinous and a blot on the father-daughter relationship.”
"The POCSO Act, 2012, has been enacted to protect children from the offense of sexual assault and sexual harassment...The act of sexual assault on a child is to be viewed seriously, and such offenses are to be dealt with stringently," the court order read.
"In this case, the accused, being the stepfather of the victim, subjected her to sexual assault and became a predator instead of a protector. Therefore, he is not liable for a lenient view," the court held.
Case Originated in 2019
The case originated in April 2019 when a neighbor filed a complaint with the Kalwa police station. The neighbor became suspicious after the victim went missing for two days and was later seen with the accused.
The victim eventually confided in the neighbor and other women, revealing that her stepfather had sent her and her brother to beg in trains and had subsequently sexually assaulted her, threatening her with dire consequences if she revealed the abuse. The victim also disclosed a prior incident of abuse that occurred when her mother was ill.
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Seven Witnesses Support Prosecution
Accordingly, the neighbors filed a case against the man with the Kalwa police station. The prosecution examined seven witnesses, all of whom supported the prosecution's case.
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