Nagpur: The Special Judge for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Nagpur, R P Pande on Monday awarded 20 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) to Edwin Michael Francis (59) after the charges of raping a six-year-old girl were substantiated against him. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him for committing the heinous act.
According to the prosecution, Edwin Francis and the victim’s family were earlier staying at the same locality in the MIDC area in Nagpur. Because of Edwin’s unpleasant behaviour, his landlady had asked him to vacate the house. Edwin shifted to another rented house at Takli Sim, Hingna Road, in the same area. The victim knew Edwin as he used to stay next to her house. She used to call him ‘Bade Papa.’
Around 12 noon on November 3, 2022, the victim, who was studying in KG-2, had gone to a nearby grocery shop to buy chocolates. Edwin saw the girl and purchased ‘Frooti’ (a soft drink) for her. He then took her to his house and sexually assaulted her. When her parents returned, she narrated the incident to them. As the victim was suffering from pain, her parents took her to a private hospital. The doctors advised her parents to lodge a complaint with the police.
Subsequently, they lodged a complaint at MIDC Police Station. Police registered a case under Sections 376-A, 376-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), read with Sections 4, 6 of the POCSO Act, against Edwin and arrested him.
Police officers Apurva Borkar and Yogesh Mohite, who were the investigating officers, probed the matter and filed a chargesheet against accused Edwin. The court examined nine prosecution witnesses. As the charges were proved against Edwin, the court sentenced him to suffer rigorous imprisonment (RI) for 20 years with a fine of Rs 10,000 for the offence under Sections 376-AB of the IPC. If he failed to pay the fine, he would undergo additional one year RI. If he pays the fine, it would be given to the victim by way of compensation as per the provisions under Section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, after the appeal period would be over.
Additional Public Prosecutor Aasawari Palsodkar represented the State. Adv S R Dwivedi was the defence counsel.
