JUDGMENT

(1)The above Criminal Appeal is preferred by the appellant/sole accused against the judgment of conviction and sentence dated 20.10.2015, made in Spl.SC.No.33/2014, by the learned Sessions Judge, Fast Track Mahila Court, Thoothukudi, convicting and sentencing the appellant/accused for the offences under Section 366 of IPC and under Section 4 of POCSO Act .

(2)The factual scenario as unfolded during the course of trial is as follows:-

(a)The case of the prosecution in a nutshell:

The victim girl was 14 years old at the time of occurrence as per her recorded date of birth, 30.12.1999. The victim was residing in her aunt Murugeswari's house in Rajapalayam and was pursuing her studies there. During summer vacation / holidays, the victim used to visit her parents and assist her father [PW1] in vegetable business. While so, she developed acquaintance with the appellant/accused, a resident of neighbouring Village, Govindanpatti. On 20.05.2014, the victim went to the house of PW3-sister of PW4, in Uttudanpatti to attend a temple festival. On 22.05.2014, when PW3 was away from her house, the appellant/accused, who went to the Village of Uttudanpatti, to install radio set for the tem