Thane: The Thane Special Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO)Act court has convicted a 25-year-old man under the charges of outraging the modesty as well as stalking a school going girl, in May 2019. The court presided by judge Ruby Malvankar, has sentence the youth to one year of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 3000.
Shawn Edwin Rodricks a resident of D'Cunha Street, Bhayandar, was found guilty under three counts, under Sections 354 (assault with intent to outrage modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 354D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
According to the prosecution, Rodricks had followed the minor girl multiple times, causing her to feel alarmed. On one such occasion, he acted inappropriately further grabbed her hand and pulled her toward himself, thereby applying criminal force with an intention to outrage her modesty.
The defense however had argued that the act did not involve criminal force and therefore the accused did not qualify under Section 354 IPC. However, the court rejected this claim, ruling that the accused's actions clearly amounted to sexual harassment, physical contact, and unwelcome advances, all punishable under the law.
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Considering the psychological impact caused on the young schoolgirl, the court emphasized on the seriousness of the crime. However, it also took into account that the accused was a young person and granted him some leniency in sentencing.
