JUDGMENT :

This Criminal Appeal has been filed against the Judgment dated 26.08.2019 in Spl.S.C.No.14 of 2019 on the file of the learned Magalir Neethi Mandram, Fast Track Mahila Sessions Court, Thiruppur.

2. The case of the prosecution is that at the time of occurrence, the victim girl was aged about 7 years and studying in 3rd standard. The appellant is none other than the uncle of the victim girl. The father of the victim girl deserted her mother and they were living separately. During the school vacation, the victim girl and her mother used to go to the accused house, to see her maternal grand father. When the victim girl was alone at home, the accused committed penetrative sexual assault with her and the accused used to misbehave with her for about 3 years. The accused also threatened the victim girl to maintain secrecy.

Subsequently, the parents came to know about the incident and lodged a complaint against the appellant on 08.08.2017 to the respondent police.

3. The respondent police registered a case in Crime No.10 of 2018 against the appellant for the offence under Section 5(l)(m)(n) and punishable under Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 [herea