Uttar Pradesh: Man gets 10-year imprisonment for unnatural sex with girl

KANPUR: The designated Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act (Pocso court) on Tuesday convicted accused Vinod Kumar for committing an unnatural sexual act with a minor girl and sentenced him to ten years rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 30,000.
Judge Kapila Raghav ordered in the judgement that fifty percent of the fine amount (Rs 15,000) be given to the victim, and if the accused failed to pay the fine amount, then he would have to serve another three months sentence in jail.
According special prosecutor Ganga Prasad Yadav, the victim’s father, a resident of Dada Nagar, in his report lodged on November 6, 2015 had alleged that his seven-year-old daughter was playing outside his house in the morning but at around 11.30am when her mother went outside to call her she found her missing.
He had stated in his complaint that his neighbour's wife told him that when she heard shrieks of the girl from the house across the road, she along with other neighbours went to the house and tried to open the door which was locked from inside. After breaking the door open, he found his daughter nude and bleeding. A boy, identified as Vinod Kumar was standing near the girl who was weeping.
The complainant and others caught the accused and later handed over to the police which after investigation filed a chargesheet against him under section 323/378 of IPC and under section 3/4 of the Pocso Act, the prosecution said.
On the quantum of punishment, the defence counsel pleaded that the accused had been falsely implicated in the case because the witnesses were interested witnesses whose testimony cannot be relied on, and as the prosecution had failed to prove its, the accused should be acquitted.
On the other hand, the special prosecutor argued that the prosecution had successfully proved its case, and since the accused had been involved in an unnatural sexual act, he should be given severe punishment. The court thereafter punished him with 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fine.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)