A.M. BADAR, J.

1. By this appeal, the appellant/accused is challenging the judgment and order dated 20th May 2015 passed by the learned Special Judge, Pune, in Special Child Sessions Case No. 42 of 2013 thereby convicting him of offences punishable under Section 376 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The appellant/accused is also held guilty under Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act hereinafter). On each count for the offence punishable under Section 376 of the IPC as well as that under Section 4 of the POCSO Act, he has been sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 10 years apart from payment of fine of Rs. 5,000/- in default to undergo further rigorous imprisonment of 1 year. For the offence punishable under Section 354 of the IPC, the appellant/accused is sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 1 year, apart from directing him to pay fine of Rs.1,000/- and in default, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for 1 month. Substantive sentences imposed on these three counts are directed to run concurrently by the learned trial court.

2. Brief facts leading to the institution of the present proceedings are thus:

(a) Inf