MUMBAI: Observing that the survivor retracted her statement under emotional pressure and familial influence, especially given her admission of fear and mental distress, a special Pocso court sentenced a 53-year-old man to imprisonment until the remainder of his natural life for repeatedly sexually assaulting and impregnating his 15-year-old daughter between 2018 and 2020. He was also fined Rs 5 lakh which will be given to the girl as compensation, reports Rebecca Samervel.In a rare instance, two other men, aged 29 and 27, were sentenced to six months’ simple imprisonment on charges of criminal intimidation after it was found that they had “consensual” sexual relations with the minor in 2019.The girl, in her deposition before the judge, had claimed that she falsely implicated her father out of anger. However, the court relied on the DNA evidence which showed that the accused was her baby’s biological father. “The scientific findings corroborate the girl’s earlier statements and outweigh subsequent retractions,” said judge Sabina A Malik said.
