SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court has upheld a 24-year rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed on a man convicted of sexually assaulting his 10-year-old stepdaughter in South West Khasi Hills in 2016, dismissing his appeal against the conviction.
A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh, in a judgment pronounced on October 29, found no grounds to interfere with the May 6, 2021, order of the Special Judge (POCSO), South West Khasi Hills.
The appellant, Millingstone Khardewsaw, had challenged his conviction under Sections 5(m)(n) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on September 4, 2016, when the survivor was alone at home with her stepfather while her mother was away. The child testified that the accused sexually assaulted her, gagged her with a cloth when she cried out, threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incident and tied her hands behind her back before leaving.
Her mother found her unconscious and took her for medical treatment. The survivor subsequently disclosed the assault to her aunt.
The High Court observed that the survivor’s testimony remained largely unchallenged during cross-examination and was corroborated by her mother’s evidence and medical findings. It also noted that the accused had not denied making a confession before a Judicial Magistrate First Class under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, admitting to the assault.
The bench said the accused had “completely breached the relationship of trust” with his stepdaughter and had taken advantage of her when his wife was away.
The trial court had recommended Rs 3 lakh in compensation for the survivor through the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority for rehabilitation and mental health treatment.
The High Court directed the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, South West Khasi Hills, to submit a report within six weeks on whether the compensation had been disbursed. The matter has been listed for December 21, 2026, to record compliance.
