In a recent decision, the Bombay High Court rejected the appeal of Datta Digambar Ingle, who was found guilty of committing an inappropriate act against a three-year-old girl. The court confirmed the original punishment of three years in prison.
On November 21, 2008, the victim, a three-year-old girl, was playing near her home in Sangrampur, Maharashtra. Her grandmother, who was at home, heard her crying shortly after she went with Ingle, their neighbor. The grandmother found blood on the girl's legs and, upon further checking, found injuries indicating an inappropriate act.
The victim was medically checked by Dr. Vaishali Bodhankar, who found two injuries near the anus. Although the doctor couldn't confirm if there was penetration, the evidence suggested otherwise. The girl's underwear, stained with her blood, further supported the case against Ingle.
"Injury No.1: Tear near the anus... Blood present on touch."
Ingle was initially found guilty by the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, in Sangrampur. His appeal was rejected, leading him to seek another review claiming there wasn't enough evidence. However, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses, and both the trial and higher courts found the evidence convincing.
Ingle's defense argued that there was no clear medical opinion on penetration. However, Judge Rajnish R. Vyas emphasized that the surrounding circumstances and evidence were enough to maintain the conviction.
"The opinion given by the Doctor is not absolute truth. The surrounding circumstances and additional evidence need to be considered."
The High Court, led by Judge Rajnish R. Vyas, found no reason to change the previous decisions. The application was dismissed, confirming the three-year sentence.
