Hinjawadi Case: Court Gives 25-Year Sentence to IT Team Leader

Pune: In a shocking Hinjawadi case, a special court has sentenced a 41-year-old IT professional to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment under the POCSO Act.

The accused, who worked as a team leader in an IT company, was found guilty of sexually assaulting his 12-year-old niece over a long period. The girl had been living with him and his wife in Hinjawadi since March 2018 after losing both her parents.

According to the case details, the child’s mother had been murdered by her father, who is currently in jail. After this tragedy, she was sent to stay with her aunt and uncle.

The abuse continued for nearly three years and came to light in May 2021. The accused’s wife grew suspicious of his behaviour and decided to install a hidden camera in their bedroom. The recording captured the crime, which later became a key piece of evidence.

She immediately took the girl for a medical check-up and approached the police. A formal complaint was filed the next day, following which the accused was arrested.

During the trial, the aunt later changed her statement and did not support the case fully. However, the court relied on strong evidence, including the video recording, DNA reports, medical findings, and the victim’s testimony.

The court found the evidence credible and convicted the accused under multiple sections of the law that deal with aggravated sexual assault, especially when the offender is a family member or someone in a position of trust.

While delivering the verdict on April 8, the court refused to show any leniency. It observed that the act caused serious physical and emotional harm to the child and described it as extremely serious.

The accused has been given a 25-year jail sentence, which is higher than the minimum punishment under the law.

It is important to note that the charge of gang rape, which was initially filed by Hinjawadi police, was later dropped by the court during the trial.

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