Mumbai, August 10: A 60-year-old rickshaw driver who allegedly raped a minor girl in 2019 after luring her has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 20 years. A special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences ACT (POCSO) court awarded the jail term to the accused on Thursday, August 8. The accused had raped the 12-year-old girl after luring her with chocolates, gifts and money.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the incident came to light in September 2019, when the victim's mother suspected foul play involving the convict. When the woman asked her daughter about the accused, Ashok Vishwanath Kamble, she told her mother that the Kamble used to make her sit in his rickshaw. Mumbai Shocker: Autorickshaw Drivers Mercilessly Thrash Youth Outside Mankhurd Railway Station; Disturbing Video Surfaces.

The minor girl also said that the accused used to take her to a garden near Nilkanth Tower, Garodiya Nagar. The victim also revealed that the accused sexually assaulted her thrice. Following this, the woman approached the police and lodged a complaint against Kamble. Acting on the woman's complaint, the police arrested the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and POCSO Act.

During the trial, Kamble's lawyer Pravin Pandey questioned the credibility of the evidence in the case. Pandey told the court that the sole testimony of the child witness was not reliable. He also stated that the prosecution failed to produce any medical or other evidence. Thus, he claimed that the prosecution failed to prove that his client was guilty of offences under the POCSO Act. Mumbai Shocker: 3 Booked for Extorting INR 45 Lakh From Woman by Making Obscene Video of Her Under Guise of Modelling Opportunity.

After hearing arguments of both sides, the special court convicted Kamble. The accused was convicted for rape under various sections of IPC and POCSO Act and awarded him 20 years in jail.

Women and Child Helpline Numbers:

Childline India – 1098; Missing Child and Women – 1094; Women’s Helpline – 181; National Commission for Women Helpline – 112; National Commission for Women Helpline Against Violence – 7827170170; Police Women and Senior Citizen Helpline – 1091/1291.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2024 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).