RAJ KUMAR PRADHAN Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. B. Baruah, learned counsel appearing for and on behalf of the appellant as well as Mr. P.S. Lahkar, learned Addl. P.P., Assam representing the State respondent.

(2.) This appeal is directed against the judgment and order dated 20.11.2014, passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Golaghat in Special (POCSO) Case No.15/2014, convicting the appellant under Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (in short 'the POCSO Act'), sentencing the accused/appellant to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 10 (ten) years and also to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000/- (Rupees ten thousands), in default of payment of the fine, the accused shall undergo further rigorous imprisonment for one year.

(3.) The case of the prosecution in brief is that, on 18.06.2014, the appellant, resident of Singimari village of Golaghat District committed sexual assault upon a child, aged about 15 years of the same village finding her alone in the house. On the same very day, an FIR was lodged by the mother of the victim and on the basis of such FIR, the Borpathar P.S. Case No.86/2014, under Section 448/376 of the IPC, read with Section 8 of the POCSO Act was registered and investigated into.