On December 9, a Mumbai court found a man guilty of 'grooming' a minor girl under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). Priya Bankar, a special POCSO judge, sentenced the man to 6 months in prison, observing that such sexual offences against children would have a negative impact on the victim's mental health and future.

The Court stated in its decision that the accused's actions of following the victim repeatedly and attempting to contact her by asking her to buy pens and books amounted to sexual harassment.

“Said act of the accused definitely shows that he has a sexual intent and therefore he has followed the 15 years old girl and was offering pen and book only to interact with her and to develop the relationship by offering the articles. It was the process of grooming the child for his sexual intent. Otherwise also, there is absolutely no explanation from the accused why he was trying to contact the minor victim girl at the relevant time,” the order stated.

Despite the victim's disinterest, he attempted to contact her by asking her to take a pen and a book.

According to the Court, this is sufficient evidence of the accused's sexual intent.

“The victim is 15 years old, school going child. The accused was 40 years old. So, looking to the age difference between victim and accused, there was no need to accused to offer the victim a pen or book and even to contact her and to follow her. The said act of the accused itself sufficient to show his sexual intent,” the Court observed. “There is very adverse impact of the incident on victim, on her family members and even on the society. Such type of incident, is going to affect the mental health and future of the minor victim,” the Court stated in the order of conviction

Case Title: State v. Ismail Kadar