A Delhi court has convicted a boy for harassing a schoolgirl by making indecent gestures and threatening her to marry him, saying a girl cannot be compelled for marriage against her wishes.
Convicting Karol Bagh resident Ashish alias Aashu, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pooran Chand said, “Having friendship with a girl does not give any right to a boy to compel her to marry. It is ultimately the will of the girl and the boy if they decide to get married but the girl cannot be compelled for it against her wishes.”
The court held Ashish guilty for offences of criminal intimidation and showing word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
“Court is of the considered opinion that the whole conduct of the accused constitutes the offence under section 509 (showing word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and prosecution has successfully proved the guilt of Ashish. Hence, he is convicted for the offences,” it said.
However, the court decided to deliver its order on the quantum of sentence later.
Earlier, during the trial, the victim had accepted that she had a brief courtship with Ashish, whose sister was her classmate, and they also clicked some photographs.
She alleged that during their courtship, Ashish used to threaten her that he would kill her brother and sister if she does not marry him and also not let her marry anyone else.
The magistrate rejected Ashish’s contention that the victim was interested in him saying, “I do not agree with the arguments, as from the testimony of victim as well as her mother, she has deposed in details regarding the conduct of the accused towards the girl.”
According to prosecution, an FIR was lodged on April 24, 2010, by the girl against Ashish for criminally intimidating her and making indecent gestures.
Subsequent to the FIR, he was arrested from Ajmal Khan Market in Karol Bagh here.
He had pleaded innocence and claimed that he was falsely implicated in the case by the mother of the girl as she was against their friendship.
