Mumbai: Dindoshi court sentences 28-year-old man to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment in POCSO case

The case registered by Borivali Police under provisions of BNS and the POCSO Act. Representational Pic

The Dindoshi Sessions Court on Wednesday sentenced 28-year-old Noor Alam Abdul Malik Sheikh to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case registered by the Borivali Police under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The court, presided over by Sessions Judge NS Anekar in Court No. 3, pronounced the sentence in Crime Register No. 1152/2022 and Special Case No. 411/2022.

Under the relevant Sections of the BNS, Sheikh was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000.

The court also sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 under the relevant Section of the POCSO Act.

The case was prosecuted by Special Public Prosecutors Sachin Jadhav and Geeta Malankar.

The charge sheet was filed by the then investigating officers, Assistant Police Inspector Sandeep Mhaske and Police Sub-Inspector Smita Jadhav.

Palghar cops book college principal after sexual harassment allegations by 17-year-old student

In a separate incident earlier in August, a case was registered against a college principal in Maharashtra's Palghar district for allegedly sexually harassing a 17-year-old student.

The case was registered at Achole Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to police, the student is enrolled at a junior and degree college in the Nalasopara area and also works part-time at the institution to support her education.

In her complaint, the student alleged that the principal repeatedly called her to his office cabin, where he made inappropriate remarks about her appearance. She further alleged that he took her photograph without consent and behaved inappropriately with her, the news agency reported.

The student claimed that the accused pressured her to accompany him to a late-night birthday celebration and allegedly threatened to damage her reputation among her family if she refused.

She also alleged that the principal proposed that she stay overnight with him at a hotel, according to the FIR.

Police said the student approached authorities after allegedly facing harassment for more than six months.

The investigation is currently underway, and further action will be taken based on the evidence collected, officials said.