Man from Navi Mumbai gets life imprisonment for raping of minor in 2014 case

The girl who had been raped, however, died on December 19 last year due to a snake bite

The Thane sessions court on Saturday sentenced a 56-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a girl, who was six years old at the time, at Kopar Khairane in 2014.

The girl was 6 years old when she was raped. (Representational photo)

A fine of Rs50,000 has been imposed on him. The girl who had been raped died on December 19 due to a snake bite.

The accused, Affajuddin Zamir-ul Shaikh, resided in a slum area at Kopar Khairane. On August 28, he noticed that the girl, who lived in the same neighbourhood, was alone at home.

“He took her to his house, and offered her food mixed with pesticide” said Satish Gaikwad, the then senior police inspector of Kopar Khairane police station.

He raped her after she lost consciousness and then fled the spot. The girl returned home after waking up, said the officer.

Noticing her in pain, the mother took the girl to the hospital. A case was subsequently registered against Shaikh under the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Shaikh was arrested the same day.

“Unfortunately, the girl died barely two months before she was given justice,” said Gaikwad.