IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS RESERVED ON: 26-02-2026 PRONOUNCED ON: 10-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN CRL A No. 570 of 2023 P.Senthil Kumar ..Appellant/Sole accused Vs State Rep By The Inspector Of Police, Belukurichi Police Station, Namakkal District.

Cr.No. 42/2019.

..Respondent/Complainant Prayer: Criminal Appeal filed under Section 374 of Criminal Procedure Code, to allow the above Appeal by setting aside the Judgment dated 09.02.2023 passed in Special C.C.No.19 of 2019 on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Mahalir Neethi Mandram (Fast Track Mahila Court), Namakkal.

For Appellant: Mr. P.Vimal Raj For Respondent: Mr.S.Raja Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor

Judgment

This Criminal Appeal has been filed by the sole accused challenging the judgment dated 09.02.2023 in Spl.C.C.No.19 of 2019 on the file of the learned Sessions Judge, Mahalir Neethi Mandram (Fast Track Mahila Court), Namakkal, by which he was convicted for the offence under Sections 450 IPC and Section 5(m) r/w 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and sentenced him as follows:

2.(i) The case of the prosecution is that the accused and the victim child aged about 10 years were known to each other and