No Jail to Molestation Accused, Mumbai Court Frees Man With Just Rs 5000 Fine

The incident took place May 30, 2015 at 7:15 pm in the evening when the woman was returning from work. She alleged that the accused Naresh Betkar walked towards her and molested her. It was when she raised an alarm that residents caught Betkar and thrashed him.

Mumbai, August 6: A magistrate’s court in Mumbai convicted a 35-year-old man for molesting a woman but left him without a sentence only to fine Rs. 5000 for the crime he committed. It must be noted that the incident took place three years back, the year 2015. The magistrate said, “Looking to the nature of offence and looking to the society, for the ends of justice, he is to be awarded fine only.”

The incident took place May 30, 2015 at 7:15 pm in the evening when the woman was returning from work. She alleged that the accused Naresh Betkar walked towards her and molested her. It was when she raised an alarm that residents caught Betkar and thrashed him. The woman also had her brother-in-law and other residents as eye-witnesses to this case. She added that they later took the accused to the Gamdevi police station and it is there she lodged a complaint.

Meanwhile, Betkar pleased guilty saying that he was a clear case of accident because he was in a hurry and he dashed into the woman. The accused’s counsel also said that his client wasn’t drunk. Betkar who was present along with his cousin reiterated saying they both were in a hurry and hence collided with the woman. Betkar even said that his cousin had apologised to the woman but she along with the crowd started beating and thrashing them. He further added that they got scared after being beaten up and hence they tried to flee as well.

The court after pronouncing the order explained the whole case to both accused and the victim. He stated that the woman should not have taken the law in her hands and beat the man but reasoned out saying that no one could bear such immoral things. He also took the accused’s case and said that although the accused was in a hurry it cannot be spared to harass anybody or to give anybody trouble.