Pune: A 70-year-old retired government employee, who allegedly raped a school girl, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court here. P. Kshirsagar was sentenced to 20 years of hard labour and a fine of Rs 10,000. A case has been registered at Vishrantwadi police station in this regard. On October 31, 2019, the seven-year-old girl had gone to play in the garden with her grandfather. The accused had brought a dog along with him. He took the victim to the site of a planned housing project. He raped her there. The girl then informed her mother about the incident. Police registered a case and arrested the accused.
Special Public Prosecutor Nithin Konge argued the case. Ten witnesses were examined by the prosecution. The testimony of the girl and the medical officer was crucial in the case. The accused was produced in the court through video conferencing. At that time, she knew him as' Uncle. " She testified before the court that the accused had raped her. The court directed the Pune District Legal Services Authority to compensate the girl under Section 396 of the Indian Penal Code.
Lawyers demand stringent punishment
"The accused committed the crime. His act left the seven-year-old victim physically and mentally traumatised. Even if the accused is a senior citizen, he should be given stringent punishment without showing any mercy, "argued special public prosecutor Konghe. The court, after hearing the arguments, granted bail to the accused.
What's in the verdict?
"The accused is a senior citizen and had no enmity with the victim's family, complainant and witnesses. Therefore, it is clear that the girl's family does not intend to implicate the senior citizen in the crime. The intention of the accused was to gain pleasure by torturing the victim, "the special court said in its verdict.
