A man has been sentenced to seven years in jail by a court here for sexually assaulting his sister's minor friend.
The court said it has been proved that 29-year-old convict Dharam Chand had committed penetrative sexual assault upon the 12-year-old child but took a lenient view towards him as he was a first time offender and has to support family.
"The offence, for which the convict has been convicted in the matter, is derogatory," Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav said.
"This has to be born in mind that the present case is under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and this act was enacted with the objective that the children of tender age are not abused and their childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and they are given facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in condition of freedom and dignity," the court observed.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred in February 2015. The minor was playing with her friend near her house when the friend asked the victim to accompany her to her house to wake up her brother Dharam. When the two girls reached the place, the accused sent her sister to a shop for bringing something and asked the victim to stay there.
He then sexually assaulted her and also tried to gag her when she tried to raise an alarm, it said and added that in the meantime, the victim's brother came to the spot to take her home.
The child narrated the incident to her mother and sister- in-law and they reported it to the police and a case was lodged against Dharam at Ashok Vihar police station in north west Delhi.
During the trial, the man claimed that he was falsely implicated by the girl's mother and brother who were refusing to repay a loan of Rs 10,000 taken from him.
The court also awarded a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the child and said that the amount, to be given by the Delhi legal service authority, should be used for her welfare and rehabilitation.
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