report11 as per which the soil/mud stuck in the sole of the accused appellant’s shoes was opined to be having characteristics as similar to the soil found near the pond from where the child victim’s body was recovered. 15. Learned Additional Sessions Judge, Thane12 found the prosecution evidence on the aforementioned links of circumstantial evidence to be reliable and credible and by placing reliance thereupon, the trial Court convicted the accused appellant for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 363, 376(2)(i) and 201 of the IPC and Sections 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2013, vide judgment dated 5th March, 2019 and sentenced him vide sentence order dated 8th March, 2019 in the terms indicated below: - 11 Exh. 105 12 Hereinafter, referred to as ‘trial Court’. 11 Criminal Appeal No(s). 1954-1955 of 2022