JUDGMENT :

PRAYER : Criminal Appeal filed under Section 378 of The Criminal Code of Procedure, to allow the appeal, set aside the judgment of acquittal passed by the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Tiruppur in S.C.No.92 of 2013, dated 04.04.2014 and convict and sentence the accused.

A. The Appeal :

This appeal is filed by the State aggrieved by the judgment, dated 04.04.2014 of the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Tiruppur in S.C.No.92 of 2013, thereby, acquitting the respondents / accused, more specifically the respondent No.1 / accused No.1, of the offences under Section 6 read with Section 5(i), (m) and (r) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as 'POCSO Act'); under Sections 450 and 307 of The Indian Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as 'The IPC') and the respondent Nos. 2 to 4 / accused 2 to 4, of the offence punishable under Section 506 (ii) of IPC.

B. The Complaint :

2. On 12.04.2013, when P.W.18 was on duty at the All Women Police Station, Tiruppur, P.W.1, ZZZZ (name redacted) appeared before her at about 24:00 hours and h