SIVAKUMAR @ RAMESH Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant, arrayed as A-3 in the Charge Sheet, was tried separately in Spl.SC.No.9/2017 on the file of the Court of the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Mahalir Neethimandram, Fast Track Court, Erode, for offences u/s.366 IPC and section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 [in short POCSO Act] read with section 506[ii] IPC. The Trial Court, under impugned Judgment dated 23.06.2017, acquitted the appellant/accused of the sections u/s.366 and 506[ii] IPC and found him guilty of offence u/s.4 of POCSO Act, 2012 and sentenced him imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs.5,000/-, with a default sentence of 2 years simple imprisonment. Aggrieved over the said conviction and sentence, the present appeal came to be filed by the appellant/accused.

(2.) The brief facts of the prosecution case, are as follows:-

(3.) Mr.N.Manokaran, learned counsel appearing for the appellant made the following submissions:-