2026:BHC-AUG:2443 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 629 OF 2022 Ravindra @ Ritesh Bapu Nikumb Age: 24 years, Occu.: Nil, R/o Derabardi, Tq. Chalisgaon, Dist. Jalgaon ..APPELLANT VERSUS

1. State of Maharashtra Through Police Inspector City Police Station, Chalisgaon, Tq. Chalisgaon, Dist. Jalgaon

2. XYZ Since deceased, through her father ..RESPONDENTS ....

Mr. A.R. Syed, Advocate for appellant Mrs. M.N. Ghanekar, A.P.P. for respondent no.1 – State Mr. R.M. Gaikwad, Advocate for residing no.2 (appointed)

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CORAM : RAJNISH R. VYAS, J. DATE : 17^th JANUARY, 2026 ORAL JUDGMENT :

. Heard.

Prelude Of The Case

2. The appellant/original accused has approached this Court challenging his conviction awarded by the Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Special Court), Jalgaon in Special (POCSO) Case No. 11 of 2018, by which he was convicted for commission of offence punishable under Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereinafter referred as ‘Act of 2012’ for the sake of convenience) and was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for ten years and to pay fine of Rs.10,000/-.In default, he was directed to undergo r