A 30-year-old security guard was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment by the Dindoshi Sessions Court on April 30 for molesting a 10-year-old girl inside the lift of a residential society in Kandivli, Mumbai. The incident occurred on November 6, 2020, and the accused has been in custody since his arrest.
The minor, who lives with her aunt in Mumbai while her parents reside in Surat, disclosed the incident shortly after it happened. In her statement, she referred to the accused as “watchman uncle,” and said he touched her inappropriately on the head and back, hugged her, and kissed her on the cheeks. Upon learning this, her aunt approached the Kandivli Police, and a case was promptly registered.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Geeta Malankar argued for the maximum punishment, highlighting the breach of trust by a person whose role was to protect residents. The prosecution presented CCTV footage, along with statements from four witnesses, to strengthen their case.
The defence lawyer, however, claimed the accused was wrongly identified and framed. He argued that the man had served as a guard in the society for over three years without any complaints and emphasized that he was the sole breadwinner for his family, requesting leniency.
Additional Sessions Judge Ashwini D. Lokhande (Borivli Division) found the prosecution’s evidence sufficient for conviction. The court ruled that the punishment fit the gravity of the offence and convicted the accused under:
Section 354(A) of the Indian Penal Code
Sections 9 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act
Under Section 235(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure
In addition to the five-year sentence, the court also imposed a fine of ₹2,000.
