65-year-old to stay behind bars for life for raping granddaughter’s friend

Rajkot: A 65-year-old man in Junagadh was sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life for repeatedly raping a 9-year-old girl, who was the friend of his granddaughter.

The convict, Mahmadshafi Abdulla Amreliya Ghanchi, was punished by the additional sessions judge AA Rana under provisions of BNS and POCSO.

According to the prosecution’s case, the harrowing abuse began when the survivor’s family and the accused were neighbours residing in Junagadh. The accused exploited the minor’s trust, targeting her when she visited his house to play with his granddaughter, who was of the same age. The complaint alleged that the accused repeatedly forced her into heinous sexual acts behind closed doors.

The abuse continued even after the girl’s family moved to a new rented house. On Sept 7, 2024, the accused tracked them down and visited their new residence. Under the pretext of taking a tour of the new house, he asked the 9-year-old to show him the upper floor and terrace while her mother was in the ground-floor kitchen making tea. Once upstairs, he sexually assaulted the child again.

The brave minor finally broke her silence, revealing the prolonged history of abuse to her mother, who immediately confronted the accused over the phone before filing an FIR with the local police.

During the trial, the defence counsel attempted to dismantle the prosecution’s case by highlighting a three-day delay in registering the FIR and the absence of external physical injuries on the victim’s body. "The court noted that the testimony of a child witness is highly crucial and can form the sole basis for a conviction if it is consistent and reliable," said public prosecutor N K Purohit. He added, "The court found the 9-year-old survivor’s statements to be exceptionally credible, noting that she recounted the trauma clearly without any contradictions."

In its remarks, the court strongly condemned the convict’s predatory behaviour. The judge stated that an elderly man, who should be a protective grandfather figure, instead demonstrated a "dirty mentality" by preying on a child the same age as his own granddaughter.

To support the young girl’s rehabilitation from the deep mental and physical trauma, the court ordered compensation of Rs 4 lakh under the Gujarat Victim Compensation Scheme.