This appeal is directed against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence passed by the learned III Addl. Dist. & Sessions Judge, Belagavi, in S.C. No. 312/2014 dated 17.06.2016 wherein the accused is convicted for the offence punishable u/S 4 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short ‘POCSO Act’) and sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of seven years and to pay a fine of Rs.15,000/-, in default of payment of fine, he shall undergo further imprisonment for six months. The accused is also convicted for the offence u/S 6 of the POCSO Act and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of ten years and to pay a fine of Rs.15,000/-, in default of payment of fine, he shall undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of six months.

2. I have heard the learned counsel for the appellant-accused and the learned Govt. Pleader for the respondent-State and perused records of the case.

3. It transpires in the complaint that Smt. Gangamma Mallikarjun Lakkundi has filed a complaint before the Nesargi Police Station alleging that, on 07.09.2014 that herself and also her husband had gone to the field for attending coolie work