JUDGMENT :

Aggrieved by his conviction and sentence for the offences punishable under Sections 366, 343 and 376 of IPC and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (‘POCSO Act’ for short), the accused in Special Case No.65/2014 on the file of Additional District & Sessions Judge, Special Judge, Hassan has preferred the above appeal.

2. The appellant was prosecuted in Special Case No.65/2014 for the aforesaid offences on the basis of the charge sheet filed by Hassan Extension Police Station.

3. PW.1 is the father of the complainant, PW.2 is the victim girl. PW.10 is the maternal uncle of PW.2. During the year 2014, PW.2 was staying in BCM Hostel, Hassan studying diploma. She went missing from the said hostel from 05.03.2014. PW.1 filed missing complaint as per Ex.P1. In the complaint, he suspected one Manja, Murali and Riya as cause for missing of PW.2. He claimed that the victim was aged 17 years.

4. On the basis of such complaint, PW.19 Sub-Inspector of Police of Hassan Extension police station registered the first information report as per Ex.P20 for