Guard molested girl inside society lift in Kandivli; the girl was 10 years old at the time of the incident
The accused has been behind bars since 2020. Representation Pic/istock
The Dindoshi sessions court on April 30 sentenced a 30-year-old man, who worked as a security guard, to five years in prison for molesting a minor girl inside the lift of a society in Kandivli. The incident took place on November 6, 2020, following which he was arrested. The girl was 10-years-old at the time.
The child, whose parents reside in Surat, lives with her aunt. According to the statement from the victim, ‘watchman uncle’ touched her head and back inappropriately. He also hugged her, kissed her on cheeks. After the ordeal was shared by the victim to her aunt, they approached the Kandivli police station and got a case registered, following which the accused was arrested and has been behind the bars for more than four years since November 2020.
Praying for maximum punishment to the accused, assistant public prosecutor Geeta Malankar told the court that the accused, whose work was to guard, committed a breach of trust. The prosecutor also presented the recording evidence of the incident and the statement of four witnesses recorded by the police.
However, the defence lawyer, seeking acquittal, stated that he has been wrongly identified and framed. The security guard had worked in the society for over three years, and there had not been a single complaint against him, said the defence lawyer. The advocate further told the court that his family was depended on him as he is the sole breadwinner and prayed for lenient action against the accused.
Additional sessions judge Ashwini D Lokhande (Borivli Division), Dindoshi, passed the judgment stating that they had enough proof to convict the accused based on the evidence presented by the prosecution. The court said that the punishment fits the crime.
The accused has been convicted under Section 235(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure for the offences punishable under Sections 354(A) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 9 and 10 of the POCSO Act. The court ordered rigorous imprisonment for five years and a fine of Rs 2000.
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