JUDGMENT :

Ramesh Sinha, J.

This criminal appeal preferred under Section 374(2) of the Cr.P.C. is directed against the impugned judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 15.09.2021 passed by the learned Special Judge (POCSO Act) Janjgir, District- Janjgir-Champa (C.G.) in Special Sessions Case No. 81/2020, whereby the appellant has been convicted for commission of offence under Section 342 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences, 2012 (henceforth “POCSO Act”) and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 1 year with fine of Rs. 500/-; and rigorous imprisonment for 20 years and fine of Rs. 5000/- with default stipulations, respectively.

2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 15.09.2020, the victim boy and his brother went to play near their house- Junadih Badi. The mother of victim boy was at her home. At about 2:00 hours, the brother of victim came there and informed his mother that the accused/appellant has taken the victim to his house by pressing his mouth and the victim has not returned. Thereafter, the mother of the victim went the house of the accused/appellant and saw that the door was closed from i