Ahmedabad Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail for Sexually Abusing 9-Year-Old Girl

A 53-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment under the POCSO Act for sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl multiple times in Ahmedabad’s Shahar Kotda area. The court has also ordered him to pay ₹4 lakh in compensation to the victim.

Special POCSO Court Judge H. N. Desai at the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court convicted the accused, Mujeeb Shaikh, after examining the evidence presented during the trial.

Public Prosecutor Dilipsinh M. Thakor established the prosecution’s case through the testimonies of 11 witnesses and 21 pieces of evidence. After considering the arguments and evidence, the court awarded Shaikh the 20-year prison sentence.

How the Crime Came to Light

According to the prosecution, Shaikh lived in the same neighbourhood as the nine-year-old victim. In March 2020, he allegedly sexually assaulted the girl and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.

The accused would allegedly call the girl to his house, remove her clothes and touch her inappropriately. He subjected her to such abuse on four to five occasions, the prosecution told the court.

Shaikh also allegedly gave the child ₹20 to keep her silent and threatened to beat her to death if she told her parents.

The incident came to light when the girl spoke about it while playing with her friends. Her cousin overheard the conversation and informed the victim’s mother, following which the matter came to the attention of the authorities.

Court Awards ₹4 Lakh Compensation

During the trial, the prosecution presented witness testimonies and supporting evidence to establish the accused’s guilt.

After assessing the material placed before it, the Special POCSO Court convicted Shaikh and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also directed that ₹4 lakh be paid as compensation to the victim.