Survivor retracts, stepdad still jailed

CHENNAI: A Pocso court in Chennai has sentenced a 48-year-old hotel worker to 20 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting his 15-year-old stepdaughter, relying on medical evidence and a tuition teacher's testimony even after the survivor and her mother retracted their statements.

At trial, the survivor told the court she had misunderstood her stepfather and her mother supported that claim. The accused denied the charges, casting doubt on whether the case could be proved.

Special public prosecutor S Anitha pressed ahead, presenting the survivor's earlier statement along with the examining doctor's report attesting injuries consistent with her allegations. The tutor stood by his testimony. Anitha cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that in Pocso cases, courts are not bound to insist on direct testimony when corroborative medical evidence exists.

The court found the man guilty of abusing the girl over at least two years, starting when she was 13. On the day of the assault that triggered the case, he attacked her after school while her younger sister was at home. Her mother was working at an exhibition.

During Pongal holidays in Jan 2021, the girl told her mother she was in pain and disclosed the abuse. When confronted, the stepfather abandoned the family and never returned. With no income and witnessing her mother crying often, the girl stopped talking about what had happened. Her silence ended when she confided in her tutor, who held free evening classes for local children. He reported the case to Childline, which alerted police. The girl was placed in a govt home for children in need of protection until she turned 18.