Thane, March 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, Judge V A Patravale also imposed a fine of ₹31,000 on Vicky, also known as 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 defense claimed lack of visible injuries and contradictions in the boy's statements, the court rejected these claims.
"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.
The court said that nothing was brought on record that either the teen or his family had any dispute with the accused. "In such circumstances, there is no reason for him to fabricate a story and implicate the accused at the stake of his honor," 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.
