A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in jail for molesting a 15-year-old. He will also have to pay the girl a compensation amount of Rs 15,000.
What happened?
The incident had occurred on June 21, 2014, when the girl was at a snack joint with her mother in a crowded street outside Dadar station, Mumbai, reported TOI.
The mother said that around 7 pm they had gone to Kabutarkhana, Dadar for shopping. While returning home, they stopped at a shop to eat something. The accused then came from the front and touched her daughter inappropriately.
Read Also: 10 Years Of Jail To Father Accused Of Raping Daughter
The girl shouted for help and her mother chased and caught the accused. The woman added that the people around them advised her to file a complaint at the Shivaji Park police station.
What did the court say?
The accused Mahendra Bhoi defended himself in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act court, saying that it was just a casual touch as it was an overcrowded area.
The court said that the description of the act by the child reflects that it was more than just an accidental touch.
"But this is not a mere case of casual touch while passing by...the very act of the accused shows his deliberation. Without any intention such an act is not at all possible," the court said, according to a report by TOI.
The court said that as Mumbai's roads are usually crowded, specially the ones around the railway station, it is the responsibility of passers-by to maintain caution.
The court also pointed out that the girl and her mother didn't know the accused prior to the incident and hence they have no reason to spoil the accused's reputation.
Read Also: Accused Calls Rape Survivor ‘Prostitute’, Jailed For 7 Yrs
Kriti Dwivedi is an intern with SheThePeople.Tv
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/2024/11/11/2024-11-11t082606806z-shethepeople-black-logo-2000-x-2000-px-1.png){kind=logo}
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/post_banners/I3iDZ1qOTn0giHpWnIWe.jpg)