JUDGMENT :

G. JAYACHANDRAN, J.

1. The Criminal Appeal is preferred by the accused against the judgment of the trial Court for offences under Sections 366 IPC and imposed 5 years RI with fine of Rs. 1,000/- convicted under Section 506(i) of IPC and imposed 6 months RI with fine of Rs. 1,000/- and convicted under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (in short “POCSO Act”) and imposed 15 years RI with fine of Rs. 10,000/- vide, judgment dated 17.09.2016 in Spl. S.C. No. 18 of 2016.

2. The case of the prosecution is that, on 09.07.2016, the victim girl child (PW-2) along with her mother (PW-1) and her father (PW-3) went to the function held on eve of the marriage of one Selvi, who resides next to her house. At about 9.30 p.m. when PW-1 was helping the bride’s family in decorating the vessels, the child, who was playing with other children was told by her mother to have dinner. Accordingly, she went to the dining room, had her dinner and went to the side by lane to wash her hands. The accused/appellant, who is the husband of the bride’s sister, gagged