22-Year Jailed For Saying ‘I Love You’ By Grabbing Teen’s Hand

Mumbai: A youth got one year jail for grabbing a 16-year-old hand and saying 'I love you' in public in 2015. The Dindoshi court ruled this as outraging woman’s modesty under special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The accused Khadse was jailed from October 29 2015, until October 19, 2016. But the court acquitted him as no evidence was found that he was following her to foster a relationship, and as he spent nearly a year before he got bail the sentence will be set off against the time already spent in jail during the trial.

Dindoshi court

In cases of outraging modesty or sexual harassment delay in lodging FIR is natural because in a conservative society like India, people think more about the future of the victim, than to get justice

The victim along with her friend returning from college was intercepted by Khadse October 6. The prosecution alleged that he abused her and held her hand and said "I love you". After the victim's mother came to know she went to accused’s house and informed his mother. As the latter didn't pay heed she lodged FIR against Khadse on October 8.

To this the court also denied that delay in FIR was fatal to the case. "In cases of outraging modesty or sexual harassment delay in lodging FIR is natural because in a conservative society like India, people think more about the future of the victim, than to get justice," the court said.