MAHESH BHIMRAJ JADHAV Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By this appeal, the appellant challenges the judgment and order passed by the Designated Court under the Protection of Children from the Sexual Offences Act, 2012, Greater Bombay (for short 'POCSO Act') dtd. 12/3/2019 passed in POCSO Special Case No.457 of 2014 by which he has been convicted of the offence punishable under Sec. 376 of the Indian Penal Code (for short 'I.P.C') r/w Sec. 6 of the POCSO Act and sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 10 years with fine of 20,000/-, in default, to suffer rigorous imprisonment for three months.

(2.) Prosecution case is as follows.

(3.) The prosecutrix who was aged about 17 years got acquainted with the appellant in March, 2013 and they became friends. She was in the 10th standard at the relevant time. Their friendship ultimately turned into love. The prosecutrix and the appellant used to meet frequently when the prosecutrix used to attend her computer classes.