42-yr-old man gets 20 yrs in jail for sexual assault of 8-yr-old girl in the guise of game

He also threatened to slap her with a chappal if she disclosed about it to anyone.

Due to the accused’s threat, the girl remained quiet after the incident. She, however, confided in a friend about the “game”. Her mother, after noticing changes in her behaviour, inquired with her and her friend, and came to know about the “game”. Then the mother took the eight-year-old to a doctor and approached the police.

The accused had cited delay in filing of the FIR and claimed that there was no evidence other than the victim’s statement. “Victim has clearly stated in her evidence that the accused had told her that she should not disclose the incident to any family member or he would slap her by chappal. Hence, natural conduct of the victim girl aged eight years will be to remain silent due to the fear of the accused,” the court said.

The court said that the deposition showed that the victim had identified the accused and had also given credible testimony about the incident.

The accused sought leniency on the ground that he was the sole earner in his family, which included his wife and seven-year-old daughter. The court said that considering the nature of the offence, it would be appropriate to sentence him to 20 years in jail.

The court found the accused guilty under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and also directed him to a fine of Rs 15,000.