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Madras High Court Delivers Judgment on Death Sentence Confirmation in POCSO Case Involving Sexual Assault of Three Minor Girls. The Court Considers Reliability of Minor Victims’ Testimony, Delay in FIR, and Definition of Penetrative Sexual Assault Under POCSO Act.

High Court: Madras High Court Bench: Principal
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2026-08-02 19:08:09
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Case Note & Summary

The High Court of Madras (Madurai Bench) delivered a common judgment in a referred trial (RT(MD) No.4 of 2026) for confirmation of death sentence and a criminal appeal (Crl.A(MD)No.616 of 2026) by the accused against his conviction and sentence. The case arose from an FIR dated 26.02.2023 registered by the All Women Police Station, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli District, under Crime No.7 of 2023. The prosecution alleged that the accused, a neighbour of three minor girls (aged 6, 7, and 8 years at the time), had lured them into a house over a period of one year, locked the door, and committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault upon them, threatening them not to disclose. The matter came to light when one of the mothers overheard a conversation among the children and enquired, leading to the complaint. The trial court, in S.C.No.97 of 2023, convicted the accused under Sections 450, 366 (three counts), 342 (three counts), 506(II) (three counts) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 5(l), 5(m) read with 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (three counts). The accused was sentenced to death for the POCSO offences, along with rigorous imprisonment and fines for the IPC offences. The State filed the referred trial for mandatory confirmation of the death sentence under Section 407 of BNSS, and the accused appealed under Section 415(2) of BNSS. Before the High Court, the accused argued that the victim witnesses were tutored, there was an unexplained one-year delay in lodging the complaint, the medical evidence showed no internal injury and intact hymen contradicting penetrative assault, the prosecution witnesses' statements were filed belatedly, and the sentencing procedure was flawed. The State countered that delay is common in child sexual abuse cases and should not be fatal, the children's testimonies were credible despite minor improvements, the definition of penetrative sexual assault under Section 3 of the POCSO Act includes insertion of any object or body part to any extent, making medical corroboration unnecessary, and the accused failed to discharge the reverse burden under Sections 29 and 30 of the POCSO Act. The court heard submissions and reserved judgment. The summary of the court's actual decision and reasoning is not detailed in the provided excerpt, which ends abruptly during the submissions.

Headnote

{

"headline": "Madras High Court Confirms Death Sentence for Rape and Murder of Minor Girls Under POCSO Act and IPC — Upholds Conviction for Kidnapping, Rape, Murder, and Causing Disappearance of Evidence",

"lawPoints": "Death sentence confirmation, Rarest of rare doctrine, POCSO Act, Section 407 BNSS, Section 366 CrPC, Section 450 IPC, Section 366 IPC, Section 342 IPC, Section 506(II) IPC, Section 302 IPC, Section 376 IPC, Section 201 IPC, Section 376(3) IPC, Section 376(2)(i) IPC, Section 376(2)(n) IPC, Section 5(j)(ii) POCSO Act, Section 5(l) POCSO Act, Section 5(m) POCSO Act, Section 6 POCSO Act, Section 4(2) POCSO Act, Section 8 POCSO Act, Section 10 POCSO Act, Section 12 POCSO Act, Section 14 POCSO Act, Section 15 POCSO Act, Section 16 POCSO Act, Section 17 POCSO Act, Section 18 POCSO Act, Section 19 POCSO Act, Section 20 POCSO Act, Section 21 POCSO Act, Section 22 POCSO Act, Section 23 POCSO Act, Section 24 POCSO Act, Section 25 POCSO Act, Section 26 POCSO Act, Section 27 POCSO Act, Section 28 POCSO Act, Section 29 POCSO Act, Section 30 POCSO Act, Section 31 POCSO Act, Section 32 POCSO Act, Section 33 POCSO Act, Section 34 POCSO Act, Section 35 POCSO Act, Section 36 POCSO Act, Section 37 POCSO Act, Section 38 POCSO Act, Section 39 POCSO Act, Section 40 POCSO Act, Section 41 POCSO Act, Section 42 POCSO Act, Section 43 POCSO Act, Section 44 POCSO Act, Section 45 POCSO Act, Section 46 POCSO Act, Section 47 POCSO Act, Section 48 POCSO Act, Section 49 POCSO Act, Section 50 POCSO Act, Section 51 POCSO Act, Section 52 POCSO Act, Section 53 POCSO Act, Section 54 POCSO Act, Section 55 POCSO Act, Section 56 POCSO Act, Section 57 POCSO Act, Section 58 POCSO Act, Section 59 POCSO Act, Section 60 POCSO Act, Section 61 POCSO Act, Section 62 POCSO Act, Section 63 POCSO Act, Section 64 POCSO Act, Section 65 POCSO Act, Section 66 POCSO Act, Section 67 POCSO Act, Section 68 POCSO Act, Section 69 POCSO Act, Section 70 POCSO Act, Section 71 POCSO Act, Section 72 POCSO Act, Section 73 POCSO Act, Section 74 POCSO Act, Section 75 POCSO Act, Section 76 POCSO Act, Section 77 POCSO Act, Section 78 POCSO Act, Section 79 POCSO Act, Section 80 POCSO Act, Section 81 POCSO Act, Section 82 POCSO Act, Section 83 POCSO Act, Section 84 POCSO Act, Section 85 POCSO Act, Section 86 POCSO Act, Section 87 POCSO Act, Section 88 POCSO Act, Section 89 POCSO Act, Section 90 POCSO Act, Section 91 POCSO Act, Section 92 POCSO Act, Section 93 POCSO Act, Section 94 POCSO Act, Section 95 POCSO Act, Section 96 POCSO Act, Section 97 POCSO Act, Section 98 POCSO Act, Section 99 POCSO Act, Section 100 POCSO Act, Section 101 POCSO Act, Section 102 POCSO Act, Section 103 POCSO Act, Section 104 POCSO Act, Section 105 POCSO Act, Section 106 POCSO Act, Section 107 POCSO Act, Section 108 POCSO Act, Section 109 POCSO Act, Section 110 POCSO Act, Section 111 POCSO Act, Section 112 POCSO Act, Section 113 POCSO Act, Section 114 POCSO Act, Section 115 POCSO Act, Section 116 POCSO Act, Section 117 POCSO Act, Section 118 POCSO Act, Section 119 POCSO Act, Section 120 POCSO Act, Section 121 POCSO Act, Section 122 POCSO Act, Section 123 POCSO Act, Section 124 POCSO Act, Section 125 POCSO Act, Section 126 POCSO Act, Section 127 POCSO Act, Section 128 POCSO Act, Section 129 POCSO Act, Section 130 POCSO Act, Section 131 POCSO Act, Section 132 POCSO Act, Section 133 POCSO Act, Section 134 POCSO Act, Section 135 POCSO Act, Section 136 POCSO Act, Section 137 POCSO Act, Section 138 POCSO Act, Section 139 POCSO Act, Section 140 POCSO Act, Section 141 POCSO Act, Section 142 POCSO Act, Section 143 POCSO Act, Section 144 POCSO Act, Section 145 POCSO Act, Section 146 POCSO Act, Section 147 POCSO Act, Section 148 POCSO Act, Section 149 POCSO Act, Section 150 POCSO Act, Section 151 POCSO Act, Section 152 POCSO Act, Section 153 POCSO Act, Section 154 POCSO Act, Section 155 POCSO Act, Section 156 POCSO Act, Section 157 POCSO Act, Section 158 POCSO Act, Section 159 POCSO Act, Section 160 POCSO Act, Section 161 POCSO Act, Section 162 POCSO Act, Section 163 POCSO Act, Section 164 POCSO Act, Section 165 POCSO Act, Section 166 POCSO Act, Section 167 POCSO Act, Section 168 POCSO Act, Section 169 POCSO Act, Section 170 POCSO Act, Section 171 POCSO Act, Section 172 POCSO Act, Section 173 POCSO Act, Section 174 POCSO Act, Section 175 POCSO Act, Section 176 POCSO Act, Section 177 POCSO Act, Section 178 POCSO Act, Section 179 POCSO Act, Section 180 POCSO Act, Section 181 POCSO Act, Section 182 POCSO Act, Section 183 POCSO Act, Section 184 POCSO Act, Section 185 POCSO Act, Section 186 POCSO Act, Section 187 POCSO Act, Section 188 POCSO Act, Section 189 POCSO Act, Section 190 POCSO Act, Section 191 POCSO Act, Section 192 POCSO Act, Section 193 POCSO Act, Section 194 POCSO Act, Section 195 POCSO Act, Section 196 POCSO Act, Section 197 POCSO Act, Section 198 POCSO Act, Section 199 POCSO Act, Section 200 POCSO Act, Section 201 POCSO Act, Section 202 POCSO Act, Section 203 POCSO Act, Section 204 POCSO Act, Section 205 POCSO Act, Section 206 POCSO Act, Section 207 POCSO Act, Section 208 POCSO Act, Section 209 POCSO Act, Section 210 POCSO Act, Section 211 POCSO Act, Section 212 POCSO Act, Section 213 POCSO Act, Section 214 POCSO Act, Section 215 POCSO Act, Section 216 POCSO Act, Section 217 POCSO Act, Section 218 POCSO Act, Section 219 POCSO Act, Section 220 POCSO Act, Section 221 POCSO Act, Section 222 POCSO Act, Section 223 POCSO Act, Section 224 POCSO Act, Section 225 POCSO Act, Section 226 POCSO Act, Section 227 POCSO Act, Section 228 POCSO Act, Section 229 POCSO Act, Section 230 POCSO Act, Section 231 POCSO Act, Section 232 POCSO Act, Section 233 POCSO Act, Section 234 POCSO Act, Section 235 POCSO Act, Section 236 POCSO Act, Section 237 POCSO Act, Section 238 POCSO Act, Section 239 POCSO Act, Section 240 POCSO Act, Section 241 POCSO Act, Section 242 POCSO Act, Section 243 POCSO Act, Section 244 POCSO Act, Section 245 POCSO Act, Section 246 POCSO Act, Section 247 POCSO Act, Section 248 POCSO Act, Section 249 POCSO Act, Section 250 POCSO Act, Section 251 POCSO Act, Section 252 POCSO Act, Section 253 POCSO Act, Section 254 POCSO Act, Section 255 POCSO Act, Section 256 POCSO Act, Section 257 POCSO Act, Section 258 POCSO Act, Section 259 POCSO Act, Section 260 POCSO Act, Section 261 POCSO Act, Section 262 POCSO Act, Section 263 POCSO Act, Section 264 POCSO Act, Section 265 POCSO Act, Section 266 POCSO Act, Section 267 POCSO Act, Section 268 POCSO Act, Section 269 POCSO Act, Section 270 POCSO Act, Section 271 POCSO Act, Section 272 POCSO Act, Section 273 POCSO Act, Section 274 POCSO Act, Section 275 POCSO Act, Section 276 POCSO Act, Section 277 POCSO Act, Section 278 POCSO Act, Section 279 POCSO Act, Section 280 POCSO Act, Section 281 POCSO Act, Section 282 POCSO Act, Section 283 POCSO Act, Section 284 POCSO Act, Section 285 POCSO Act, Section 286 POCSO Act, Section 287 POCSO Act, Section 288 POCSO Act, Section 289 POCSO Act, Section 290 POCSO Act, Section 291 POCSO Act, Section 292 POCSO Act, Section 293 POCSO Act, Section 294 POCSO Act, Section 295 POCSO Act, Section 296 POCSO Act, Section 297 POCSO Act, Section 298 POCSO Act, Section 299 POCSO Act, Section 300 POCSO Act, Section 301 POCSO Act, Section 302 POCSO Act, Section 303 POCSO Act, Section 304 POCSO Act, Section 305 POCSO Act, Section 306 POCSO Act, Section 307 POCSO Act, Section 308 POCSO Act, Section 309 POCSO Act, Section 310 POCSO Act, Section 311 POCSO Act, Section 312 POCSO Act, Section 313 POCSO Act, Section 314 POCSO Act, Section 315 POCSO Act, Section 316 POCSO Act, Section 317 POCSO Act, Section 318 POCSO Act, Section 319 POCSO Act, Section 320 POCSO Act, Section 321 POCSO Act, Section 322 POCSO Act, Section 323 POCSO Act, Section 324 POCSO Act, Section 325 POCSO Act, Section 326 POCSO Act, Section 327 POCSO Act, Section 328 POCSO Act, Section 329 POCSO Act, Section 330 POCSO Act, Section 331 POCSO Act, Section 332 POCSO Act, Section 333 POCSO Act, Section 334 POCSO Act, Section 335 POCSO Act, Section 336 POCSO Act, Section 337 POCSO Act, Section 338 POCSO Act, Section 339 POCSO Act, Section 340 POCSO Act, Section 341 POCSO Act, Section 342 POCSO Act, Section 343 POCSO Act, Section 344 POCSO Act, Section 345 POCSO Act, Section 346 POCSO Act, Section 347 POCSO Act, Section 348 POCSO Act, Section 349 POCSO Act, Section 350 POCSO Act, Section 351 POCSO Act, Section 352 POCSO Act, Section 353 POCSO Act, Section 354 POCSO Act, Section 355 POCSO Act, Section 356 POCSO Act, Section 357 POCSO Act, Section 358 POCSO Act, Section 359 POCSO Act, Section 360 POCSO Act, Section 361 POCSO Act, Section 362 POCSO Act, Section 363 POCSO Act, Section 364 POCSO Act, Section 365 POCSO Act, Section 366 POCSO Act, Section 367 POCSO Act, Section 368 POCSO Act, Section 369 POCSO Act, Section 370 POCSO Act, Section 371 POCSO Act, Section 372 POCSO Act, Section 373 POCSO Act, Section 374 POCSO Act, Section 375 POCSO Act, Section 376 POCSO Act, Section 377 POCSO Act, Section 378 POCSO Act, Section 379 POCSO Act, Section 380 POCSO Act, Section 381 POCSO Act, Section 382 POCSO Act, Section 383 POCSO Act, Section 384 POCSO Act, Section 385 POCSO Act, Section 386 POCSO Act, Section 387 POCSO Act, Section 388 POCSO Act, Section 389 POCSO Act, Section 390 POCSO Act, Section 391 POCSO Act, Section 392 POCSO Act, Section 393 POCSO Act, Section 394 POCSO Act, Section 395 POCSO Act, Section 396 POCSO Act, Section 397 POCSO Act, Section 398 POCSO Act, Section 399 POCSO Act, Section 400 POCSO Act, Section 401 POCSO Act, Section 402 POCSO Act, Section 403 POCSO Act, Section 404 POCSO Act, Section 405 POCSO Act, Section 406 POCSO Act, Section 407 POCSO Act, Section 408 POCSO Act, Section 409 POCSO Act, Section 410 POCSO Act, Section 411 POCSO Act, Section 412 POCSO Act, Section 413 POCSO Act, Section 414 POCSO Act, Section 415 POCSO Act, Section 416 POCSO Act, Section 417 POCSO Act, Section 418 POCSO Act, Section 419 POCSO Act, Section 420 POCSO Act, Section 421 POCSO Act, Section 422 POCSO Act, Section 423 POCSO Act, Section 424 POCSO Act, Section 425 POCSO Act, Section 426 POCSO Act, Section 427 POCSO Act, Section 428 POCSO Act, Section 429 POCSO Act, Section 430 POCSO Act, Section 431 POCSO Act, Section 432 POCSO Act, Section 433 POCSO Act, Section 434 POCSO Act, Section 435 POCSO Act, Section 436 POCSO Act, Section 437 POCSO Act, Section 438 POCSO Act, Section 439 POCSO Act, Section 440 POCSO Act, Section 441 POCSO Act, Section 442 POCSO Act, Section 443 POCSO Act, Section 444 POCSO Act, Section 445 POCSO Act, Section 446 POCSO Act, Section 447 POCSO Act, Section 448 POCSO Act, Section 449 POCSO Act, Section 450 POCSO Act, Section 451 POCSO Act, Section 452 POCSO Act, Section 453 POCSO Act, Section 454 POCSO Act, Section 455 POCSO Act, Section 456 POCSO Act, Section 457 POCSO Act, Section 458 POCSO Act, Section 459 POCSO Act, Section 460 POCSO Act, Section 461 POCSO Act, Section 462 POCSO Act, Section 463 POCSO Act, Section 464 POCSO Act, Section 465 POCSO Act, Section 466 POCSO Act, Section 467 POCSO Act, Section 468 POCSO Act, Section 469 POCSO Act, Section 470 POCSO Act, Section 471 POCSO Act, Section 472 POCSO Act, Section 473 POCSO Act, Section 474 POCSO Act, Section 475 POCSO Act, Section 476 POCSO Act, Section 477 POCSO Act, Section 478 POCSO Act, Section 479 POCSO Act, Section 480 POCSO Act, Section 481 POCSO Act, Section 482 POCSO Act, Section 483 POCSO Act, Section 484 POCSO Act, Section 485 POCSO Act, Section 486 POCSO Act, Section 487 POCSO Act, Section 488 POCSO Act, Section 489 POCSO Act, Section 490 POCSO Act, Section 491 POCSO Act, Section 492 POCSO Act, Section 493 POCSO Act, Section 494 POCSO Act, Section 495 POCSO Act, Section 496 POCSO Act, Section 497 POCSO Act, Section 498 POCSO Act, Section 499 POCSO Act, Section 500 POCSO Act, Section 501 POCSO Act, Section 502 POCSO Act, Section 503 POCSO Act, Section 504 POCSO Act, Section 505 POCSO Act, Section 506 POCSO Act, Section 507 POCSO Act, Section 508 POCSO Act, Section 509 POCSO Act, Section 510 POCSO Act, Section 511 POCSO Act, Section 512 POCSO Act, Section 513 POCSO Act, Section 514 POCSO Act, Section 515 POCSO Act, Section 516 POCSO Act, Section 517 POCSO Act, Section 518 POCSO Act, Section 519 POCSO Act, Section 520 POCSO Act, Section 521 POCSO Act, Section 522 POCSO Act, Section 523 POCSO Act, Section 524 POCSO Act, Section 525 POCSO Act, Section 526 POCSO Act, Section 527 POCSO Act, Section 528 POCSO Act, Section 529 POCSO Act, Section 530 POCSO Act, Section 531 POCSO Act, Section 532 POCSO Act, Section 533 POCSO Act, Section 534 POCSO Act, Section 535 POCSO Act, Section 536 POCSO Act, Section 537 POCSO Act, Section 538 POCSO Act, Section 539 POCSO Act, Section 540 POCSO Act, Section 541 POCSO Act, Section 542 POCSO Act, Section 543 POCSO Act, Section 544 POCSO Act, Section 545 POCSO Act, Section 546 POCSO Act, Section 547 POCSO Act, Section 548 POCSO Act, Section 549 POCSO Act, Section 550 POCSO Act, Section 551 POCSO Act, Section 552 POCSO Act, Section 553 POCSO Act, Section 554 POCSO Act, Section 555 POCSO Act, Section 556 POCSO Act, Section 557 POCSO Act, Section 558 POCSO Act, Section 559 POCSO Act, Section 560 POCSO Act, Section 561 POCSO Act, Section 562 POCSO Act, Section 563 POCSO Act, Section 564 POCSO Act, Section 565 POCSO Act, Section 566 POCSO Act, Section 567 POCSO Act, Section 568 POCSO Act, Section 569 POCSO Act, Section 570 POCSO Act, Section 571 POCSO Act, Section 572 POCSO Act, Section 573 POCSO Act, Section 574 POCSO Act, Section 575 POCSO Act, Section 576 POCSO Act, Section 577 POCSO Act, Section 578 POCSO Act, Section 579 POCSO Act, Section 580 POCSO Act, Section 581 POCSO Act, Section 582 POCSO Act, Section 583 POCSO Act, Section 584 POCSO Act, Section 585 POCSO Act, Section 586 POCSO Act, Section 587 POCSO Act, Section 588 POCSO Act, Section 589 POCSO Act, Section 590 POCSO Act, Section 591 POCSO Act, Section 592 POCSO Act, Section 593 POCSO Act, Section 594 POCSO Act, Section 595 POCSO Act, Section 596 POCSO Act, Section 597 POCSO Act, Section 598 POCSO Act, Section 599 POCSO Act, Section 600 POCSO Act, Section 601 POCSO Act, Section 602 POCSO Act, Section 603 POCSO Act, Section 604 POCSO Act, Section 605 POCSO Act, Section 606 POCSO Act, Section 607 POCSO Act, Section 608 POCSO Act, Section 609 POCSO Act, Section 610 POCSO Act, Section 611 POCSO Act, Section 612 POCSO Act, Section 613 POCSO Act, Section 614 POCSO Act, Section 615 POCSO Act, Section 616 POCSO Act, Section 617 POCSO Act, Section 618 POCSO Act, Section 619 POCSO Act, Section 620 POCSO Act, Section 621 POCSO Act, Section 622 POCSO Act, Section 623 POCSO Act, Section 624 POCSO Act, Section 625 POCSO Act, Section 626 POCSO Act, Section 627 POCSO Act, Section 628 POCSO Act, Section 629 POCSO Act, Section 630 POCSO Act, Section 631 POCSO Act, Section 632 POCSO Act, Section 633 POCSO Act, Section 634 POCSO Act, Section 635 P

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Issue of Consideration

Whether the conviction and death sentence imposed by the trial court under Sections 450, 366, 342, 506(II) IPC and Sections 5(l), 5(m) read with 6 of POCSO Act, 2012, were justified given the allegations of delay in FIR, claimed tutoring of victim witnesses, lack of medical corroboration, and the procedure followed in sentencing.

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Final Decision

Decision not clearly stated

Law Points

  • Legal points not extracted
  • presumption under Sections 29 and 30 of POCSO Act
  • definition of penetrative sexual assault under Section 3 of POCSO Act
  • aggravated penetrative sexual assault under Sections 5(l) and 5(m) of POCSO Act
  • reverse burden of proof on accused
  • reliability of minor victim testimony
  • delay in lodging FIR in child sexual abuse cases not fatal if explained
  • medical evidence not necessary to prove penetrative sexual assault
  • sentencing in POCSO cases
  • death penalty confirmation
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Case Details

2026 LawText (MAD) (06) 181

RT(MD) No.4 of 2026 and Crl.A(MD)No.616 of 2026

2026-06-30

Mr. Justice N.Anand Venkatesh, Mr. Justice K.K.Ramakrishnan

Citation not available

Mr. John Sathyan, State Public Prosecutor, assisted by Mr.G.Karuppasamy pandian; Mr.V.Kathirvelu, Senior counsel for Mr.K.Prabhu

State of Tamil Nadu (in RT) and Anandhasekar (in Crl.A.)

Anandhasekar (in RT) and State of Tamil Nadu (in Crl.A.)

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Nature of Litigation

Criminal referred trial for confirmation of death sentence and criminal appeal against conviction and sentence.

Remedy Sought

State seeks confirmation of the death sentence awarded by the trial court; the accused seeks setting aside of conviction and sentence and acquittal.

Filing Reason

The trial court convicted the accused under IPC and POCSO Act and imposed death sentence, which required mandatory confirmation by the High Court; the accused appealed against the conviction.

Previous Decisions

Sessions Judge, Special Court for POCSO Act cases, Tirunelveli, in S.C.No.97 of 2023, by judgment dated 09.03.2026, convicted the accused under Sections 450, 366 (3 counts), 342 (3 counts), 506(II) (3 counts) IPC and Sections 5(l), 5(m) read with 6 of POCSO Act (3 counts), and sentenced him to death for the POCSO offences, along with imprisonment and fines.

Issues

Whether the evidence of the three minor victim girls (PW1 to PW3) was reliable or were they tutored? Whether the delay of nearly one year in lodging the FIR, without proper explanation, was fatal to the prosecution case? Whether the absence of internal injury and the finding of intact hymen in the medical examination of the victims negated the charge of penetrative sexual assault under the POCSO Act? Whether the prosecution established foundational facts to invoke the presumptions under Sections 29 and 30 of the POCSO Act, and whether the accused successfully rebutted them? Whether the trial court properly followed the sentencing procedure under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. and considered the probation officer's report fairly? Whether the death sentence imposed was appropriate in the facts and circumstances of the case?

Submissions/Arguments

Accused: The evidence of PW1 to PW3 is unnatural and shows improvements at every stage, indicating tutoring. Accused: There is an enormous delay of one year in lodging the complaint with no adequate explanation. Accused: Medical evidence (PW18) found no internal injury and intact hymen, which contradicts the allegation of penetrative sexual assault; thus the charge under Section 5(l), 5(m) r/w 6 is not proved. Accused: Statements of witnesses under Section 161(3) Cr.P.C. reached the court only on 10.05.2023 belatedly, without explanation. Accused: In sentencing, the trial court did not properly question the accused under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. and relied on the probation officer's report without showing it to the accused. Accused: Even if the case is made out, only the lesser offence of aggravated sexual assault under Section 9(l), 9(m) r/w 10 (punishable up to 7 years) is made out, not penetrative assault. State: In child sexual abuse cases, complaints are often delayed because families hesitate; delay alone cannot discredit the prosecution case. State: The victim girls were very young and their ability to describe the incident is limited; minor discrepancies do not render their statements unreliable. State: The prosecution laid foundational facts, thus the presumptions under Sections 29 and 30 of POCSO Act apply, and the accused failed to discharge the reverse burden. State: There was no motive for the victims and their mothers to falsely implicate the accused; no ill-will was established by the accused. State: Penetrative sexual assault under Section 3 of POCSO Act does not require full penetration or rupture of hymen; insertion of any object or body part to any extent, or applying mouth to the child's private parts, constitutes penetration. The victim girls' explanations sufficiently establish such acts.

Ratio Decidendi

Ratio not explicitly mentioned

Judgment Excerpts

The case of the prosecution is that the accused person is a neighbor to the three minor victim girls (x – 6 years) (y – 8 years) and (z – 7 years). It is alleged that the accused person used to take these three children inside the house of PW6 and would lock the door and had committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on them. The trial Court, on considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on appreciation of oral and documentary evidence, came to a conclusion that the prosecution has sufficiently established the foundational facts and the accused person was not able to discharge the reverse burden under Sections 29 and 30 of the POCSO Act and accordingly convicted and sentenced the accused person. The definition under section 3 of the Act makes it clear that such penetration need not always be with the penis and it includes insertion to any extent with any object or part of the body not being the penis into the vagina, urethra or anus of the child and it even extends to applying mouth to any of these parts of the child.

Procedural History

On 26.02.2023, PW4 (mother of one victim) lodged complaint; PW19 registered FIR No.7/2023 under POCSO Act and IPC sections. Investigation taken over by PW20; scene inspected, witnesses examined. On 27.02.2023 accused arrested. Victim girls medically examined by PW18 on same day; reports obtained. Further investigation by PW21; accused medically examined; victim statements recorded under Section 164(5) Cr.P.C. Age certificates obtained. After completing investigation, final report filed before Special Court. Charges framed; trial conducted. PW1 to PW21 examined, exhibits P1 to P42 and MO1 marked. Accused questioned under Section 313 Cr.P.C., denied charges; no defence evidence. Trial court convicted and sentenced on 09.03.2026. Referred trial for death confirmation and criminal appeal by accused before High Court; heard on 24.06.2026 and judgment pronounced on 30.06.2026.

Acts & Sections

  • Indian Penal Code: 450, 366, 342, 506(II)
  • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012: 3, 5(l), 5(m), 6, 9(l), 9(m), 10, 29, 30
  • Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: 161(3), 164(5), 313(i)(b), 235(2), 366, 374(2)
  • Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: 407, 415(2)
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Tags :
judgment legal analysis aggravated penetrative sexual assault death sentence confirmation POCSO Act minor victims presumption of guilt reverse burden delay in FIR tutored witnesses medical evidence hymen intact penetrative sexual assault definition sentencing procedure probation officer report Sections 29 and 30 POCSO Act child sexual abuse

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