Thane Court Sentences Man to Life Term for Raping Minor Stepdaughter

Thane district court in Maharashtra has sentenced a 44-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of his minor stepdaughter. Dr. Rachna Tehra, the Special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act Judge, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the accused.

The Special Public Prosecutor, Sandhya Mhatre, informed the court that the accused, a resident of the Mumbra area in Thane, committed the crime in 2020 when the victim was six years old. During the times when the child’s mother was away for work, the accused would intimidate and drive away the victim’s nine-year-old brother, allowing him to repeatedly rape his stepdaughter.

Additionally, the accused inflicted burns on the victim’s private and other body parts using candles and matchsticks, as stated by the prosecution.

The judge accepted the prosecution’s argument and found the accused guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the POCSO Act, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act-2015.

The case involved the examination of five prosecution witnesses, including the victim and her mother, according to the police.

In her ruling, the judge noted that the prosecution had successfully established all charges against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to his conviction and sentencing, Mhatre stated.