Masjid imam sentenced to life for raping student

Mumbai: A special POCSO court  on Thursday convicted the Imam of a local mosque in Nagpada area and sentenced him to life imprisonment for raping a 10-year-old girl who used to learn Arabic from him in 2017. Only the mother of the victim stood by her statement and all other family members including the victim and father didn't support the prosecution.

The mother had also filed a NC in the police station saying there was pressure on the family. The court convicted the accused based on medical evidence.

The special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court judge M.A. Baraliya convicted Abdullah Naji under various sections of the IPC and POCSO and sentenced him to imprisonment for life.

The prosecution case is that the victim stays in the Nagpada area with her parents and one sister and two brothers. The victim was 10-years’-old at the time of the incident in October 2017.

The victim used to go to a nearby masjid to learn the Quran from the accused between 3pm and 4pm. On October 9, she returned home crying. After much pleading and taking her into confidence, the victim told her mother that her maulana who was teaching her the Quran was not behaving well and touching her body inappropriately.

The victim alleged that the accused used to carry out these acts after taking her into his room. Although the victim’s minor sister was also studying with her, the accused used to give the sister her mobile phone and make her sit outside his room.

On the basis of these allegations, the mother took the victim to JJ Hospital where doctors confirmed that the victim had been sexually assaulted. Following this, the parents registered a complaint with the J.J. Marg police.

The police also recorded statements of important witnesses under section 164 CrPC which can be used as an evidence in the court.