MAN, 29, GETS LIFE TERM FOR IMPREGNATING MINOR IN 2015

MUMBAI: The special court under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) on Wednesday convicted Ramesh Wavekar, 29, for impregnating a minor girl and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The minor died in October 2015 soon after delivering a baby boy in KEM hospital.

The prosecution claimed that Wavekar and the minor resided in the same locality and had an affair. A case of sexual assault was filed only after the girl delivered the child.

It was claimed by the minor’s family that they were unaware about her pregnancy for eight months and even later, she was treated at home.

During the investigation, the minor’s siblings had mentioned that Wavekar used to visit their house. However, none of the family members supported the prosecution case. The victim’s parents and two siblings were all declared hostile by the prosecution in the court.

The accused too alleged that the DNA reports were not conclusive and the baby was conceived out of relationship with some other person.

However, the medical report and DNA report became crucial evidence for the prosecution to prove that the child was indeed Wavekar’s. His DNA profile matched with the baby’s and the report became the only strong evidence for the prosecution in the court.

During the probe, Santacruz police which investigated the case, had seized the minor’s mobile phone, which revealed that she and Wavekar had exchanged several massages and calls indicating that they were in a relationship.

A DNA TEST WHICH MATCHED THE MAN’S PROFILE WITH THE BABY DELIVERED BY THE MINOR IN OCTOBER 2015 PROVED TO BE THE CLINCHING EVIDENCE