A man in Maharashtra’s Thane district has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping his sister’s 14-year-old friend in 2018. The District and Additional Sessions Judge (Kalyan) PR Ashturkar, handling cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, described the victim’s ordeal as a “hellish experience” caused by the brother of her friend. The accused claimed a love relationship as a defense, but the court rejected it, stating that it does not justify rape, especially against a minor. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 11,000 on the accused.
According to the prosecution, the victim and the accused lived in the same area, and the victim was the accused’s sister’s classmate. On March 16, 2018, the accused lured the victim to his home under the pretense of meeting his sister. Once inside, he locked the door and raped her, threatening her with severe consequences if she revealed the incident. The victim eventually confided in her mother, leading to a police complaint and the arrest of the accused. The court emphasized that the accused’s plea of a “love relationship” does not excuse his actions and highlighted the victim’s vulnerability due to her age.
The court found the prosecution’s evidence, including the victim’s testimony and medical evidence, to be compelling and established the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge concluded that the accused had committed sexual assault without considering the victim’s age or consent, noting that his actions had devastatingly impacted the victim’s life.
