Thane: A 28-year-old man from Thane, Maharashtra, has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor boy in 2016. The judgment was delivered by Special POCSO court judge DS Deshmukh on July 2.

The court concluded that the prosecution had successfully proven all charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The man, a resident of the Waghbil area in Thane city, was also fined Rs. 10,000, which will be given to the victim as compensation. The judge further recommended the case to the District Legal Services Authority for additional compensation to the victim.

Special Public Prosecutor Sandhya H Mhatre informed the court that the incident occurred on the night of December 24, 2016. The victim, who was 11 years old at the time, was walking home alone after attending a Christmas Eve event at a friend's house. The accused intercepted him, dragged him to a secluded area, and assaulted him.

Upon returning home, the boy experienced severe pain and his parents discovered injuries on his body. When asked, the boy revealed the incident, leading his parents to file a police complaint. The police registered an FIR under provisions for unnatural offences and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Mhatre stated that eight witnesses, including the victim and his mother, testified in court. Key evidence included bloodstains on the victim's clothes that matched the accused's samples, which the court accepted as conclusive proof, resulting in the conviction.

India's Most Notorious Destinations: Top 10 Places to Avoid

Delhi Man Falls Victim to Dating App Scam, Loses Over Rs 1.2 Lakh

Street Vendor and Wife Duped of Rs 3.40 Lakh by Maulana in Ranchi