Thane:
A local court on Monday sentenced a 29-year-old man to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years for raping a three-year-old girl in March 2013.
Additional Sessions Judge U M Nandeshwar also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convict, Mohani Chhotu Gunnarayan Singh Chouhan alias Dhirendra, a resident of Kopri area in Thane.
Chouhan, a street vendor, was convicted under relevant sections of IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).
to Additional Public Prosecutor Ruma Navle, the crime took place on March 27, 2013, which happened to be the day of Holi festival.
The convict was acquainted with the family of the victim, whose father was also a street vendor, and often frequented their house, she said.
On that day, Chouhan lured the girl out of her house on pretext of buying her a chocolate. He took the victim to a tunnel below a railway bridge in Kopri and sexually assaulted her, Mr Navle said.
Acting on a complaint lodged by the family, Sub-Inspector A S Sapkal investigated the case and arrested Chouhan.