Thane man gets 10 years RI for sexually assaulting minor girl in 2013
A Thane court sentenced Bablu Shaikh to ten years in jail
THANE: A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment by a Special POCSO Court in Thane for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl nearly 12 years ago.
The accused, Bablu—also known as Mohammad Mustapha Imtiyaz Shaikh—was 20 years old when the offence took place. He has been convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The assault occurred on 6 July 2013, when the accused intercepted the girl on her way home from school and forced her to accompany him to his house, despite her refusal.
Prosecutor Advocate Sandhya Mhatre said the accused threatened to harm the girl's relatives before committing the assault. She described the crime as predatory and manipulative, exploiting the child's vulnerability.
The victim reported the incident to her mother immediately upon reaching home. A police complaint was filed the same day at Mumbra police station, and officers swiftly began their investigation, gathering key evidence that later supported the prosecution.
Six witnesses testified during the trial, including the victim and her mother, offering vital accounts that helped establish the sequence of events. The defence argued that the case was falsely filed due to a contract-related dispute. It was alleged that the victim's mother had wanted a contract for her son-in-law, which the accused had secured instead.
However, Judge Deshmukh dismissed the defence's claims, stating that the victim's testimony was credible and consistent with the medical evidence.
The court observed that it was unlikely for a young girl to fabricate such serious accusations and accepted the medical findings that supported her version.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹10,000, to be given to the victim as compensation. The matter has also been referred to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for additional support, recognising the long-term psychological impact on the survivor.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
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