Thane, Oct 11 A 22-year-old man was acquitted by a court in Kalyan in Thane district in a POSCO Act and kidnapping case involving his minor sister-in-law.
The man was accused of inappropriately touching his 14-year-old sister-in-law while on a trip to Vaishnodevi temple.
As per the complaint lodged by the girl's mother on March 1 last year, the victim and her elder sister left with the accused without informing others in the family and had toured several places. The alleged incident of inappropriate touching took place during this time, it claimed.
Based on the complaint, a case of kidnapping and other offences was registered at Khadakpada police station against him under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
During the course of the trial, the victim and her elder sister did not support the prosecution's case. They denied that the accused indulged in any misbehaviour or sexual assault.
In his order of October 9, Additional Sessions Judge PP Muley said the relationship between the informant mother and her son-in-law (accused) was strained due to the unapproved marriage (with the victim's elder sister).
Therefore, the insertion of colourful version in the body of report to settle family differences as arm-twisting tactics in matrimonial dispute is probable, the court observed while acquitting him.
The court also underscored significant shortcomings in how the prosecution attempted to establish the minor age of the victim.
It pointed out that only a color photocopy of a birth certificate was produced without any endorsement or supporting witness testimony from the issuing authority.
