K. MUTHU MARIAPPAN Vs. THE STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant is the sole accused in S.C. No. 11 of 2014, on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Mahila Court, [Fast Track Court], Tuticorin. He stood charged for the offences punishable under Sections 366(A) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 r/w Section 5(1) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, [for brevity, "the POCSO Act"]. The Trial Court, by Judgment dated 13.03.2015, has convicted the appellant under Section 366(A) of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months. The Trial Court further convicted the appellant under Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, [for brevity, "the POCSO Act"] and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/- in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months. The sentences have been ordered to run concurrently. As against the said conviction and sentence, the appellant has come up with this Criminal Appeal.

(2.) The case of the prosecution, in brief, is as follows:--

(3.) I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the appellant, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent and also perused the records carefully.