Summary: The Bombay High Court confirmed that Pradip Prakash Baikar was guilty of crimes under the POCSO Act and upheld his 10-year prison sentence.
On June 7, 2022, Pradip Prakash Baikar was found guilty by the Special Court in Case No. 16 of 2014. He was charged with serious crimes under specific sections of the law, including those dealing with sexual offenses and threats, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison along with a fine.
The incident was reported when the victim's mother went to the Ghatkopar Police Station. On August 26, 2013, the victim complained of stomach pain and revealed that four days earlier, Baikar had tricked her with food, taken off her clothes, and attacked her.
"He called her pretending to give her food and then forced her into a sexual act."
The police carried out a detailed investigation, which included medical checks and statements from witnesses. The prosecution brought several witnesses, such as neighbors and a doctor, to back up the charges.
Baikar's lawyer argued that the evidence didn't match up and there was no medical proof of the attack. They said the victim's story couldn't be trusted and there was no other evidence to support it.
The prosecution stressed the victim's young age and how her story stayed the same. They noted that even small differences in the story shouldn't lead to letting Baikar go free, especially since the victim was a child.
"The Court has to consider how young the victim is when looking at her story."
Judge R.M. Joshi decided that the evidence, including the victim's story and medical results, proved Baikar's guilt. The court rejected the appeal, noting that the defense didn't provide a good reason for why the accusations would be false.
The appeal was rejected on February 25, 2026, confirming Baikar's 10-year sentence. The court decided that the prosecution had adequately proven the charges, and there was no reason to change the conviction.
