A Thane district court sentenced two men, Akshay Pandurang Gavate (27) and Devidas Dharmesh Gavate (29), to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment on July 28 for the gangrape of a 13-year-old girl in 2018. Additional Sessions Judge N L Kale convicted the duo under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, imposing a ₹15,000 fine each, citing the “gravity of the offence.” Two other accused, juveniles at the time, are being tried separately in Juvenile Court.

The incident occurred near Jambhla village, where the Class 7 student was assaulted by four individuals. Her cries alerted villagers, causing the accused to flee. Special Public Prosecutor Vivek G Kadu and advocate Vijay Munde presented the case, noting the survivor’s initial testimony on March 14, 2019, detailed the assault consistently.

However, during a re-cross-examination on August 5, 2022, she denied penetrative assault and claimed ignorance of the complaint’s contents. The court dismissed this, citing the three-year gap and the possibility that the accused “won her over,” relying instead on her initial statement and corroborating medical evidence.

The case, registered under IPC sections 376(2)(i) and 376(2)(n) and POCSO Act provisions, highlights systemic issues in sexual violence cases, with 6,159 child rape cases reported in Maharashtra in 2022 alone, per NCRB data. The conviction underscores judicial reliance on initial testimonies and forensic evidence, despite challenges like delayed trials and witness tampering, reinforcing accountability in POCSO cases.

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