Mumbai: The special POCSO court has convicted a 75-year-old man for sexually harassing a 3-year-old girl in March 2022. The man was caught red-handed by the girl's mother, and when she raised an alarm, he fled the scene.
As per the prosecution's case, the case was registered with Powai Colony police station by the victim's mother. She stated that she resided with her four daughters and her husband. On March 11, 2022, the day of the incident, her three elder daughters had gone to school, while the youngest one remained at home, and her husband had gone to work.
The mother testified that at around 11:30 am, while she was washing clothes, her daughter was playing in the house. Meanwhile, the accused, who lived in the neighborhood, came near the door of the house and called the girl. There, he exposed his private parts to the three-year-old girl. The accused held her hand and asked the girl to touch him. The girl began crying because of the accused's actions.
The mother testified that as soon as she heard her daughter cry, she rushed to the room and saw the accused in a semi-nude state. The woman shouted and raised an alarm. The accused, however, managed to escape from the house. The mother later registered the case. It was claimed that the accused was a habitual drunkard and was often found in an inebriated condition on the road.
The accused, however, maintained his innocence and denied any wrongdoing. To this, the special judge said, "What is the reason for the accused to enter the victim's house and unzip his pants? The act of the accused unzipping his pants itself indicates his ill intention to commit a sexual act with a 3-year-old child."
"The act of the accused unzipping his pants itself shows his sexual intent," the court observed, stating, "It is proved that the accused, by exposing his private parts and unzipping his pants, caused sexual harassment to the child. At the same time, it is not proved that the accused committed sexual assault on the victim as defined in the POCSO Act."
The court, however, sentenced him only to three years' imprisonment, which he has already served, considering his advanced age.
