A Mumbai court convicted a 19-year-old for confessing his love to a minor girl and holding her hand. Presiding Judge Ashwini Lokhande ruled that the boy’s actions compromised the dignity of the 14-year-old victim. The court emphasized the importance of protecting minors from inappropriate advances.
Mumbai: A special POCSO court in Mumbai sentenced a 19-year-old boy to two years of rigorous imprisonment for holding a minor girl‘s hand and professing his love for her.
Judge Ashwini Lokhande ruled that the boy’s actions compromised the dignity of the 14-year-old girl.
The incident, which occurred five years ago, surfaced when the girl’s mother filed a complaint at Sakinaka police station in September 2019. As per the prosecution, the minor had gone to a local shop but came back home in tears. Upon questioning, she disclosed that a man had followed her to the first floor of the building, grabbed her hand, and declared, “I love you.”
The accused maintained his innocence, asserting that he was in a consensual relationship with the minor girl and that she willingly agreed to meet him on the day the incident occurred. He argued that the interaction was mutual and born out of a pre-existing romantic relationship. However, the court did not find his defence convincing. Despite his claims, the court found him guilty of molestation under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Nevertheless, he acquitted of charges under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which could have led to a much harsher sentence.
Judge Ashwini D. Lokhande remarked,
“The testimonies of the victim and her mother supported each other. There was no substantial evidence to contradict their statements. Furthermore, the claim of a romantic relationship between the victim and the accused was denied by both witnesses. Overall, the evidence provided by the victim and her mother was credible and convincing.”
The accused was also fined Rs 2,000. He arrested shortly after the incident in 2019 and was granted bail in 2023. His sentence will account for the time he has already served in jail. In addition to the victim and her mother, special public prosecutor Geeta Malankar examined the police officer who recorded the 14-year-old’s statement immediately after the complaint and the investigating officer.
During the time of the incident, the girl was 14 years old. However, four years later, at the age of 18, she testified in court. The incident took place at 11 pm on September 9, 2019. It occurred when the girl’s mother sent her to buy tea powder.
Upon returning from the shop and ascending to the first floor of her building, the accused, who lived in a different wing of the housing complex, forcefully grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. He uttered the words, “I love you” and “Mai tujhse bohot pyaar karta hoon” (meaning “I love you a lot” in Hindi).
She managed to free herself and rushed home in tears, immediately recounting the traumatic incident to her mother. In response, her mother hurried to the staircase and confronted the accused, who proceeded to threaten her. The situation quickly drew the attention of other residents in the building, who gathered at the scene. The following day, the girl’s mother lodged a police complaint.
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As a result, the accused faced charges of outraging modesty and sexual harassment under the Indian Penal Code, as well as under the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act.
Judge Ashwini Lokhande, who presided over the case, highlighted several key points in her judgment. She emphasized that the girl’s immediate reaction to the incident returning home in tears and informing her mother strongly indicated a lack of consent. The judge pointed out that if there had indeed been a genuine romantic relationship, it would be unlikely for the girl to report the incident to her mother due to fear of repercussions.
The court noted that the actions of the accused significantly compromised the dignity and mental well-being of the 14-year-old victim.