Additional Sessions Judge M C Gupta awarded the jail term to 33-year-old Pyare Lal, a mason, for raping the toddler in 2010 when her parents had gone out for work.
"After delicately balancing and giving due consideration to the facts and circumstances, the aggravating and mitigating factors and circumstances in which the offence had been committed, I am of the considered opinion that the end of justice can be met by sentencing convict Pyare Lal to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 10 years and to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 under section 376 (2)(f) (raping a minor) of the IPC," the judge said.
According to the prosecution, a complaint was registered against Lal by the child's father, who was the nephew of the accused, that on the morning of August 19, 2010, he and his wife had gone to their work while the victim was at home with his brother and Lal.
He told police that when he returned home in the afternoon, he saw the victim crying in Lal's lap. On being asked as to what happened, Lal said nothing and picked up his clothes and fled the spot, the complainant said.
Lal prayed before the court for a lenient view saying he has to look after his wife and two minor kids and their life would be ruined if he is jailed. But, the court rejected his plea.