Thane, Mar 12 A fast-track court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has sentenced a 34-year-old man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy nearly seven years ago.
In his order of March 7, a copy of which was made available on Thursday, Judge V A Patravale also imposed a fine of Rs 31,000 on Vicky, alias Gudya Datta Thorat.
According to Special Public Prosecutor Kadambini Khandagale, the incident took place on September 8, 2018, when Thorat sexually assaulted the minor in a public toilet in the Ulhasnagar area.
The teenager told the court that Thorat had threatened to kill him if he disclosed the assault.
While the defence claimed lack of visible injuries and contradictions in the boy’s statements, the court rejected these contentions.
“Even in the absence of any corroboration of any medical evidence, the oral testimony of the prosecutrix (minor) which is found to be cogent, reliable, convincing and trustworthy has to be accepted,” the court said.
Nothing was brought on record that either the teen or his family had any dispute with the accused, the court said. “In such circumstances, there is no reason for him to hatch a story and implicate the accused at the stake of his honour,” it said.
The prosecution presented nine witnesses, including the boy and his parents, to prove the case.
The court convicted Thorat under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
It also ordered that the fine amount be paid to the minor and directed the District Legal Services Authority to decide on further compensation under the Victim’s Compensation Scheme.
