: Stating that “the nature of offence committed by the convict does not demand any leniency,’’ a court here sentenced a 21-year-old man to five years’ imprisonment for molesting a nine-year-old girl.
The court also gave the victim ₹2 lakh as compensation.
“The interest of justice would be met if the convict is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for five years and slapped a fine of ₹5,000 under Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act; and in default of payment of fine, simple imprisonment for 30 days,’’ Additional Sessions Judge Gautam Manan said.
Victim gets compensation
“In order to provide restorative and compensatory justice to the victim, ₹2 lakh is granted to her as compensation. Secretary, D.S.L.S.A, North District, shall ensure that the said amount is given to the parents of the victim within one month on receipt of this order and shall further ensure that the money is used for the welfare and rehabilitation of the victim,’’ Mr. Manan further said.
The convict, Vipin, had assaulted the girl in his room in north Delhi’s Shahbad Dairy in 2014.
The court convicted him on the basis of the evidence given by the victim, her mother and the police.
Guilty under POCSO Act
“The testimony of the victim, her mother and the police proves that the incident took place in the evening. True that the testimony of the victim’s uncle in respect of the timing of the incident is inconsistent to the prosecution case, but the witness otherwise supported the prosecution version that the complainant [victim’s mother] came to his house and informed him about the incident,’’ the judge said.
“Accordingly, the accused stands convicted of the offence punishable Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC,’’ the judge said.
