Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya has upheld a 15-year prison sentence for a man convicted of sexually assaulting his teenage daughter. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh dismissed the appeal on 20 May 2026, confirming the original judgment from a special POCSO court handed down in 2023. The court found no grounds to interfere with the conviction of Shanborlang Thabah under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, which addresses aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
The crimes occurred at the family home in West Khasi Hills while the girl was between 14 and 15 years old. The survivor testified that her father repeatedly abused her while her mother was away and her siblings were asleep. She stated the abuse occurred several times a week and included two separate instances of penetrative assault. The girl eventually confided in an elder cousin, which led to a formal complaint filed by her uncle at the Mairang Police Station.
During the trial, the defense attempted to claim the survivor had exaggerated her account, pointing to differences between her court testimony and her earlier statement to a magistrate. The court dismissed this argument after the survivor clarified that her initial statement had also included the successful completion of the assault. Judges also noted that the defense failed to challenge the core of her testimony or provide any reason why the girl would falsely accuse her own father.
Medical evidence from Tirot Singh Memorial Hospital supported the survivor's account with physical findings consistent with abuse. The girl also reported that her father had attempted to bribe her to keep the assaults secret, an offer she rejected. With the dismissal of the appeal, the original sentence for the serious offense stands.
Comments