Thane Court Sentences Man to 10-Year RI for "Heinous" Minor Sexual Assault

• A special POCSO court in Thane sentenced Saddam Akkach Molla to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2021.
• The court observed the crime was "heinous" and deserved no leniency, despite the DNA report of the accused not matching the victim’s foetus.
• Molla lured the minor to his house on the pretext of needing help to write a letter in Hindi and assaulted her.
• The incident came to light when the victim complained of stomach pain and was found to be pregnant; she had also been assaulted by another individual in a separate incident.
• The court imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 and recommended the case to Thane DLSA for further compensation to the victim.