BHANEI PRASAD Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The instant appeal has been maintained by appellant/ accused/convict (hereinafter referred to as the accused) against judgment of conviction dtd. 24/9/2018 and order of sentence dtd. 26/9/2018, passed by learned Special Judge, Solan, H.P., in Sessions Trial No.7-S/7 of 2013, whereby the accused was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.50,000.00 for commission of the offence punishable under Sec. 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short 'POCSO Act') and he was also sentenced to undergo imprisonment for a term of two years for commission of the offence punishable under Sec. 506 of the Indian Penal Code (for short 'IPC').

(2.) The facts giving rise to the present appeal, as per the prosecution story, can be summarized as under:

(3.) The prosecution, in order to prove its case, examined as many as twenty three witnesses. Statement of the accused was recorded under Sec. 313 Cr.P.C., wherein he pleaded not guilty. The accused did not examine any witness in his defence.