PANKAJ KUMAR Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The three appeals are taken up together for consideration as these have emanated out of a common impugned judgment of conviction dated February 24, 2023 and order sentence dated February 27, 2023 passed by learned Judge, Special (POCSO) Court, Howrah, in Special T.R. No 18 of 2016 arising out of Howrah GRPS Case No. 187 of 2015.

(2.) By the impugned judgment, the appellants Balak Ram Yadav and Pankaj Kumar were convicted of the offence punishable under Sec. 6 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 whereas, the appellant Manjrish @ Monjrish Tripathi was convicted of the offence punishable under Sec. 6/17 of the said Act. By the impugned order, the appellant Manjrish @ Monjrish Tripathi was sentenced to suffer Rigorous Imprisonment of 10 years together with a fine of ?50,000/- for the offence under Sec. 6/17 of the Act of 2012. In default of payment of fine, the said appellant was directed to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for a further period of 1 year.

(3.) The other two appellants namely, Balak Ram Yadav and Pankaj Kumar were sentenced to undergo life imprisonment with fine of ?1,00,000/- each, for committing the offence punishable under Sec. 6 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and in default of payment of fine, they were directed to suffer Rigorous Imprisonment for a further period of 2 years each.