Man handed 20-year jail term for sexually assaulting minor boy in Maharashtra

A Palghar court has handed a 41-year-old man, Madhu Dharma Govari, a 20-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor boy. The Palghar district court rejected the defence's claim of improbability in a crowded locality and emphasized that bystander apathy cannot undermine a victim's testimony. According to prosecutors, the victim was lured by the accused, who was his neighbor, to his terrace on December 12, 2020, to show him young pigeons.

The accused then gagged the boy, tied him up, and sexually assaulted him. Despite the accused's threats and bribes, the victim informed his maternal aunt about the incident, leading to an immediate filing of an FIR. The court dismissed the defense's alibi plea, noting that the evidence proved both the victim and the accused were together on the terrace, making the defendant's claim self-contradictory.

Semen stains on the victim's clothing were found to match the accused, providing conclusive proof of the assault. The judge also noted that prior discord between families could be a motive for the crime, rather than a false accusation. Govari was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and 10 years under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, both sentences to run concurrently.

Additionally, a ₹30,000 fine was imposed on the accused, which was directed towards the victim's rehabilitation.