Mumbai: A special POCSO court has sentenced a 53-year-old Kandivali resident to 20 years' imprisonment for sexually abusing three boys below the age of 12 from his housing society in December 2018. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000, of which Rs 15,000 is to be paid as compensation to one of the victims.
The abuse came to light when one victim informed his mother that on December 24, 2018, the accused had lured him with chocolates, blindfolded him under the pretext of playing hide and seek, and assaulted him. The mother lodged a complaint with Charkop police on December 26. Other parents joined her, leading to the accused’s arrest the same day. He has remained in jail since.
One victim testified that he used to play carrom with the accused, who would sometimes reward him after games and then exploit him under the guise of playing hide and seek. Another victim could not testify as he died before the trial concluded.
