A Delhi court has refused to quash the jail term of a man held guilty in a sexual harassment case, saying persons who have no respect for women need to be taught that such behaviour will invite stringent punishment.
Special Judge Sandeep Yadav upheld the one-year sentence of convict Virender Kumar while dismissing his appeal against a magisterial court order that had sent him behind bars terming the crime committed by him as "serious".
"The sentence awarded to appellant (Kumar) is just, fair and adequate and is commensurate with the seriousness of crime committed by him," the judge said.
He said such persons "who have no respect for the dignity of women, needs to be taught that a person with any deviant behaviour indented to outrage the modesty of a woman will invite strict punishment. No leniency can be shown in such cases of proved assault on women."
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The court also upheld a fine of Rs 10,000 imposed on him with a direction that the amount should be paid to the victim.
According to the prosecution, on May 25, 2015 the victim went to use an MCD toilet in Balmiki Basti in central Delhi, when Kumar caught hold of her and touched her inappropriately.
It said the woman, who was married, pushed him away but he did not budge and confessed his love to her. He also threatened to throw acid on her face, it said.
The woman managed to escape from his clutches and informed her husband and a police complaint was lodged, it said.
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The man was arrested for the offences of sexual harassment, outraging the modesty of woman and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.
In his appeal against the verdict, he had contended that the complaint was false and fabricated and the woman's husband was not examined during trial.
(PTI)
