JUDGMENT :

This Criminal Appeal has been filed against the Judgment dated 20.05.2019 made in Spl.S.C.No.1 of 2016 on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Magalir Neethimandram, Salem.

2. The respondent police registered a case in Crime No.4 of 2015 against the appellant for the offence punishable under Section 363 of 'Indian Penal Code' [hereinafter called as 'IPC'] and Section 8 of 'The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012' [hereinafter 'POCSO Act' for the sake of convenience]. The respondent police, after investigation, laid a charge sheet before the learned Sessions Judge, Magalir Neethimandram, Salem. Since the offence is against a minor girl, the Sessions Judge, after completing the formalities, taken the case on file in Spl.S.C.No.1 of 2016 and framed charges against the appellant for the offences punishable under Section 363 IPC and Section 8 of the POCSO Act.

3. On completion of trial, the appellant was found guilty for the offence punishable under Section 363 IPC and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/-; in default to undergo simple imprisonment for three months and for the offence punishable under