A special court in Mumbai recently convicted a man for stalking and sexually harassing a 16-year-old girl, issuing a three-year prison sentence along with a fine of Rs 3,000. The case stems from incidents that occurred in early 2017, when the accused was 19 years old. The court’s ruling follows a prolonged legal process that highlighted the serious nature of the charges against him.

Details of the Incident

The events underpinning the legal action took place in January and February of 2017 in a local Mumbai neighborhood. On January 31, during a community ‘Haldi Kumkum’ event, the accused reportedly directed a flying kiss at the minor girl. This gesture was observed by a neighbor, who subsequently informed the victim’s mother.

The girl then disclosed a prior incident, wherein the accused had approached her from behind while she was on her way to tuition classes. He allegedly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. Due to fear, the girl initially chose not to inform her parents about the incidents.

Family Intervention and Legal Action

The victim’s father later confronted the accused and his mother at their residence in an attempt to resolve the matter and requested that he refrain from approaching his daughter. However, this meeting escalated when the accused and his family allegedly verbally abused the victim’s family, ultimately leading to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against him.

Trial Proceedings and Court Findings

Throughout the trial, the defense attorney, Santosh Pagare, sought to downplay the incident by suggesting that the flying kiss was merely a dance gesture. However, the victim firmly refuted this claim during her testimony.

The presiding judge remarked that the defense’s suggestion indirectly acknowledged the act, emphasizing that the accused’s actions amounted to sexual harassment, as such gestures violate the victim’s dignity.

Defense Arguments and Court’s Rejection

The accused also claimed that the neighbor who alerted the victim’s mother held a familial grudge against his family, insinuating that the allegations were fabricated.

The court, however, rejected this line of defense, noting the absence of any prior animosity between the families and highlighting that the victim’s parents would not jeopardize their daughter’s reputation for the sake of a neighbor.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share