Assaulter arrested and POCSO Act invoked in Mumbai molestation case

Public outrage across the country and the global #metoo campaign has spurred the Mumbai police to re-arrest and slap stringent charges against one Imran Shaikh two days after a video had gone viral showing him allegedly physically and sexually assaulting a minor girl in Nehru Nagar, Kurla, Mumbai.

The role of the police have however been questioned as to why mild charges were initially pressed against Imran and he was released on bail.

The incident had taken place on October 17. The video footage from a CCTV shows the girl being physically and sexually assaulted while 4 onlookers remain mere spectators. The girl puts on a brave fight but is overpowered by the attacker.

Initially Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) were slapped on the accused and he was released on bail.

However with the public criticism and outrage Imran was arrested and Section 326 (Volunatrily causing grievous hurt) along with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) invoked.

Abha Singh, Women's Rights Activist demanded that the concerned police personnel should also be brought under the scanner. "Why was the culprit charged with mild sections and released on bail?" questioned Singh.

On Sunday the accused was produced in a Mumbai Court and remanded to police custody till October 25.

The family of the victim has alleged that they had been threatened by the family of the accused. The father claimed that they were threatened and had asked to withdraw the complaint. "Police have now now taken fresh statements from my daughter. My daughter is seriously injured and the bone of her nose is fractured. She has been advised surgery" stated the father of the victim.

Shahaji Umap, the DCP (Zone 6) stated that additional Sections including POCSO has been added as per fresh statements by the girl. "Investigations are on" added Umap.

With POCSO being invoked the case will be investigated by an Inspector level officer and tried in a special court. Reports state that the case is being investigated by Inspector Manisha Shirke of Tilak Nagar police station.

As per the complaint on Octobe 17, at around 7pm the victim was on her way to attend coaching classes. Shaikh and his friends were sitting in an auto-rickshaw.

They were allegedly passing lewd remarks loudly. The victim had then asked Shaikh to behave. Shaikh in a fit of rage started assaulting the victim. She had tried to ward off the assault but Shaikh had allegedly pulled out a shard object and hit her on the nose. The victim, profusely bleeding, fell down on the road, unconscious.

OneIndia News