Chandigarh: Appeal of 3 boys convicted of molestation rejected

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh sessions court 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 on a girl near girls’ hostel number 3 at the Punjab University campus. Police registered an FIR against the accused under sections 294 (obscene acts and songs) and 34 (acts done by several persons with 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 hostel gate when the three persons stopped their car after seeing her alone. The trio started passing obscene comments. At first, 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 also abused her. They were later arrested. After completion of investigation, a chargesheet was filed in the court against the accused. After hearing arguments, the trial court found the accused guilty of committing the offence punishable under the IPC. However, the accused were released on probation of good conduct for one year on furnishing a bond of Rs 20,000 and surety of the like amount. Feeling aggrieved by the judgment of probation passed by the trial court on May 30, 2018, they filed appeals. On May 30, 2018, they filed appeals and their counsel argued that the appellants had not committed the offence alleged by the prosecution. The appellants have been accused of molestation, though no date and time of the incident has been mentioned in their complaint. After hearing arguments, the sessions court said that the complainant has identified the accused in the court. In view of this, there is no apparent illegality or defect in the judgment of conviction of the accused, which justifies any interference. Therefore, the appeal is dismissed, it said.