The Bombay High Court has upheld the conviction of a man accused of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl in 2016 but reduced his life imprisonment sentence to 12 years. The division bench, comprising Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice Sandesh Patil, noted that while the crime was heinous, the convict’s conduct while incarcerated showed a genuine path toward reform.

The convict, who was 20 at the time of the incident in Ghatkopar, was sentenced to life by a special POCSO court in 2020. During his appeal, his defense highlighted that he had used his time in prison to educate himself. He earned three certificates for studying Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, essay writing, and book analysis.

The High Court observed that the convict had no prior criminal record and had remained in custody for over nine years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic without bail. Considering his educational achievements and socially constructive activities in jail, the court stated that a 12-year sentence strikes a proper balance for justice. The court emphasized that while the minimum sentence must exceed 10 years given the nature of the crime, the potential for social reintegration justifies the reduction from a life term.