66-year-old doctor sentenced to 3 years jail for molesting minor

Mumbai: A sessions court in Mumbai found a 66-year-old doctor guilty of molesting and sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl, an employee at his health products shop in 2018. He has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment and ordered to pay a Rs 6,000 fine which will be paid to the girl as compensation once recovered.

The minor girl went to the doctor's house to collect the shop keys but she was left in shock and devastation after allegedly being forcefully hugged, kissed, and molested by the doctor. The girl used to work at a shop owned by him in Ghatkopar.

While passing the judgement, Special Judge Madhuri S Deshpande observed, "There is an increase in the cases of sexual offences against children… child sexual abuse cases demonstrate the inhumane mindset of the accused. The children are easy prey due to their tender age, physical vulnerabilities, and inexperience of life and society.

There is a very adverse impact of the incident on the victim, on her family members, and even on society. They are under the impression that the house and nearby vicinity are not safe for children, and it is going to cause an alarming situation in society. Such a type of incident is going to affect the mental health and future of the minor victim, and she will not be in a position to forget it."

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The incident dates back to March 22, 2018, when the victim visited the accused's residence to retrieve the keys to the shop where she had been working for the past eight days. After arriving, the accused’s wife informed her that the keys were with the accused, who was in the storeroom. The victim proceeded to the storeroom and addressed the accused as ‘kaka’ (uncle). The accused invited her further inside and asked her to close the door. After doing this, he commented, "You look very good today."

He then handed her the keys but suddenly hugged her tightly, kissed her, and molested her. Shocked and distressed, the victim immediately shouted, pushed him away, and fled the storeroom. She sat in the shop, crying, before eventually leaving. Later that day, she disclosed the incident to her maternal cousin. The following day, March 23, 2018, her maternal uncle noticed that she had not gone to work. When he questioned her, she disclosed the assault. With her uncle’s support, they went together to file a police complaint against the doctor under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act.

As per a TOI news report, the girl moved to the city as she enrolled in a computer course and stayed with her maternal uncle. The girl and her maternal uncle were among the witnesses in the case.

To prove the allegations, the prosecution examined four witnesses along with CCTV witnesses. The court after going through the evidence on record observed that there was sufficient evidence to prove the allegations against the accused that he had outraged the modesty of the survivor and had also committed the offence of sexual assault.

The bench said, “I have no hesitation to come to the conclusion that the accused has outraged the modesty of the minor victim girl aged 17 years old, made physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures", HT reports.

While imposing the fine on the doctor, the court said "The incident caused an adverse impact on the mind of the victim. No compensation can either be adequate or be of any respite to the victim. But, then monetary compensation will at least provide some solace."

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