Chandigarh: Appeal of 3 boys convicted for eve-teasing dismissed
Chandigarh, July 29
The session court of Chandigarh has dismissed an appeal filed by three Punjab residents Lalit Sondhi, Ishan Goyal and Bhuvnesh against their conviction in a seven-year-old case registered for allegedly passing obscene comments at a girl near girl’s hostel number 3 on the Panjab University campus.
The police registered an FIR against the accused under Sections 294 (obscene acts and songs) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC on the complaint of the girl.
She told the police that on December 16, 2017, she was standing near the gate of the hostel, when the abovesaid three persons stopped their car on seeing her alone. The three started passing lewd comments. Initially, she ignored them, but they did not stop and started whistling and shouting.
The security officer tried to stop them, but they did not stop the car and even abused him. Later, they were arrested. After completion of the investigation, a chargesheet against the accused was presented in the court.
After hearing the arguments the trial court held the accused guilty of the commission of the offence punishable under the IPC. However, the accused were released on probation of good conduct on furnishing bonds of Rs 20,000 each with one surety of the like amount for one year.
Feeling aggrieved with the judgment of probation passed on May 30, 2018 by the trial court, they filed an appeal. On May 30, 2018, they filed an appeal and their counsel argued that the appellants had not committed the offence as alleged by the prosecution. The appellants have been charged for eve-teasing, however no date and time of the incident has been mentioned in her complaint.
After hearing the arguments the session court said the complainant identified the accused in the court. In view of this, there is no patent illegality or vice in the judgment of conviction of the accused, which warrants any interference. So, the appeal stands dismissed, it said.
