JUDGMENT

S.K. Sahoo, J. - The appellant Rabi Munda faced trial in the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge -cum- Special Judge, Keonjhar in Special Case No.185/61 of 2016-14 for commission of offences punishable under section 376(2)(i) of the Indian Penal Code and section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereafter referred to as 'POCSO Act') on the accusation that he committed rape on the victim, a girl aged about twelve years on 02.08.2014 at about 12 noon in Chiragunidhoda forest at village Uchumadihi under Nayakote police station in the district of Keonjhar.

The learned trial Court vide impugned judgment and order dated 10.11.2017 found the appellant guilty of the offences charged and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/- (rupees five thousand), in default, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for one year for the offence under section 376(2)(i) of the Indian Penal Code and he was further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years and to pay a fine of Rs.3,000/- (rupees three thousand), in default, to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for one year for the offence und