A middle-aged man, convicted for sexually assaulting his live-in partner's minor daughter, has been sentenced to rigorous jail term for five years by a Delhi court which said instances of girls becoming victim of such "nefarious acts" were rising.
Additional Sessions Judge Illa Rawat held West Bengal native Munna Lal guilty of aggravated sexual assault under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and said there was no reason why the 17-year-old girl would have falsely implicated the man, who was like a step-father to her since the death of her own father.
"The instances of minor girls becoming victim of such nefarious acts and deeds are on rise and thus, no leniency is called for in the matter," the court said.
"In these circumstances, it would appear that the convict is not repentant for his acts and is willing to return to same shared household in which he was prior to registration of the case and naturally have an access to the victim child.
"On the other hand, the victim being a school-going minor, is still dependent on her mother for her shelter, food and clothing, which makes her position very vulnerable. In fact, when the victim appeared to depose before the court, she specifically mentioned about the inimical attitude of her mother towards her," the judge noted.
According to the police, Lal was staying in the house of his live-in partner in Subhash Place in north west Delhi from past 10 years, after the death of her husband, and since last one year he was sexually assaulting, beating and scolding the woman's daughter.
The girl had told her mother about the misdeeds of the man but she did not pay attention to it and continued to have affection for Lal. Thereafter, the minor mustered courage to confide in her friend.
Her friend took her to their school teacher and the matter was reported to the police and an FIR was lodged against Lal.
Lal, who was suffering from tuberculosis, sought leniency on the ground of ill health and said his condition was deteriorating day-by-day and that he was not getting proper treatment in the jail. His submissions were turned down by the court.
