Neighbour gets 5 year-RI for assaulting 6-year-old girl

A man convicted under POCSO act, by a Delhi court has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old minor. The court also asked the Delhi government to compensate the victim by paying Rs 50,000.

According to the prosecution, the accused as well as the family of the victim were residing as tenants in the same building. On the day of the incident, a roommate of the accused had left the keys of the room with the mother of the victim. The accused came to her later, took the keys and went upstairs, followed by the child who went upstairs to play. 

‘Taking advantage of the fact that the child was alone, the accused offered her a toffee and a kite and enticed her inside his room, where he slapped her and sexually assaulted her,’ the prosecution said. Additional sessions judge Illa Rawat observed that if there was not a timely intervention by the mother of the victim, who rushed upstairs hearing the cries of her daughter, the victim could have suffered irreparable harm.  ‘I hearby award the convict Pramod Kumar five years of rigorous imprisonment for offence under Section 8 of POCSO Act, along with a fine to the tune of Rs 5,000,’ said the court. The convict is also sentenced under Section 363 (kidnapping) of IPC, along with the fine of Rs 3000. 

ASJ Illa Rawat said that the apex court has time and again observed that that subordinate courts trying the offences of sexual assault have the jurisdiction to award compensation to victims. ‘Therefore, in order to provide restorative and compensatory justice to the victim, I hereby direct the GNCT of Delhi through Principal Secretary (Home) to grant compensation to the tune of Rs. 50,000,’ the judge said.