Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya has upheld the conviction of a man found guilty of sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl. A division bench dismissed the man's appeal on May 22, 2026, confirming the original 14-year rigorous imprisonment sentence issued by a lower court three years ago.
The incident occurred on June 23, 2018, when the defendant, a neighbor, abducted the child and assaulted her inside his home. The girl disclosed the event to her mother, leading her father to file a police report at the Phulbari station the following day. Throughout the trial, the defense argued that the victim's testimony lacked reliability and that the medical evidence was insufficient. The high court rejected these claims, emphasizing that the girl's account remained consistent and credible throughout her testimony.
Judges highlighted the survivor's reaction during the trial, noting her clear distress and fear upon seeing the defendant in the courtroom. Medical evidence further supported the prosecution's case, with doctors confirming physical signs of forceful penetration. The court also pointed out that the defendant undermined his own defense by questioning the child's age, which effectively served as an admission that she was a minor at the time of the crime. Official documentation confirmed she was nine years old.
The court ruled that the appeal was devoid of merit. Along with the prison term, the original sentence remains in effect, requiring the man to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 or face an additional three months of incarceration.
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