Thane, Jul 22 A POCSO court in Thane has acquitted a 32-year-old dentist of charges of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in his clinic in 2023, noting there was "absolutely no evidence" linking him with the purported offence and after the victim and her mother turned hostile during the trial.
Special Judge (POCSO Act) and Additional Sessions Judge Premal Vithalani passed the order on Tuesday; the copy of which became available on Wednesday.
The alleged incident occurred on December 25, 2023, when a 15-year-old girl visited a dentist's clinic in the Mumbra area with her younger sister for treatment of a toothache.
The dentist allegedly sexually assaulted the teenage girl on the dental chair, according to the FIR registered under section 354-A(1)(i) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 8 (sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
However, during the trial, both key prosecution witnesses failed to support the original complaint.
"The victim's mother denied that she was informed on the phone that the accused sexually assaulted the girl by touching and pressing her breasts. Even the victim has not supported the prosecution's case.
"She has deposed that on the date of the incident, she and her younger sister had been to the dental clinic of the accused, where she was treated for a toothache. She deposed that no incident had occurred in the clinic of the accused," the court said in its order.
Citing the denial by the girl, the judge noted that the evidence of the police official in whose presence the victim's statement was recorded would not prove the guilt of the accused.
"Thus, on record, there is absolutely no evidence connecting the accused with the said offence," it stated.
