J.B. PARDIWALA, J.

1. As both the captioned appeals are against the selfsame judgment and order of acquittal passed by the Trial Court, those were heard analogously and are being disposed of by this common judgment and order.

2. The Criminal Appeal No.1342 of 2018 is at the instance of the State of Gujarat, whereas the Criminal Appeal No.934 of 2018 has been filed by the original complainant (victim’s mother) under section 372 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

3. Both the appeals, referred to above, are directed against an order of acquittal dated 3rd May, 2018 passed by the Special & Addl. Sessions Judge, Bharuch in the Special POCSO Case No.45 of 2016. By the impugned judgment passed by the Special & Addl. Sessions Judge, Bharuch, the original accused came to be acquitted of having committed the offences punishable under sections 376 and 506 (1) of the IPC and sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (for short “POCSO”).

4. Case of the prosecution

4.1 The prosecution case, which unfolded during the course of the trial is that