Two shocking cases of sexual exploitation of young children at the hands of Islamic preachers have come to light in the state of Kerala. In the first incident, three madrasa teachers one of whom is from Uttar Pradesh, have been arrested by Nedumangad police. On 18 November, the authorities informed that were arrested on charges of sexual assault on minor students.
The accused were identified as 24-year-old L Siddique from Kadackal Kanjirathummoodu Bismi Bhavan, 28-year-old S Muhammed Shameer from Jasmin Villa near Karibah Auditorium and 30-year-old Muhammad Rasalal Haq from Ganeshpur in Uttar Pradesh Kheri district. The three used the pretence of a madarsa to exploit the youngsters and expose them to unnatural sexual violations.
The operation was undertaken after a complaint was lodged by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The Juvenile Justice Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and pertinent Indian Penal Code sections were invoked to register the case against the culprits.
They have spent the last year operating a madrasa in Nedumangad. District Superintendent of Police Kiran Narayanan oversaw the arrest of the offenders after Kattakkada Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) N Shibu, Nedumangad Station House Officer (SHO) A Sunil, Sub-Inspector (SI) Suresh Kumar, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shaji, Rajith, Senior Civil Police Officers (SCPO) C Biju, Deepa and Civil Police Officer (CPO) Ajit Mohan received a tip from the CWC about their horrific crimes against the victims who were attending the institution for religious studies. The trio was sent on remand after being presented in court.
Meanwhile, The Vazhikadavu Police nabbed an Islamic preacher named Puthukkadavu Muhammad Shakir also known as Shakir Baquavi Mampad in Malappuram on 22 November after he was accused of molesting a young kid for a year.
Puthukkadavu Muhammad Shakir alias Shakir Baquavi Mampad (Source: Onmanorama)
The youngster told his teacher about the abuse on 21 November and after receiving a complaint, cops acted promptly to make an arrest. Manoj Parayatta, Station House Officer of Vazhikadavu Police informed, “We received the complaint against Shakir on Tuesday. The boy told his teacher about the abuse from Shakir. We wasted no time and nabbed him from his house.”
The assault continued for a year and the perpetrator also threatened the victim to keep the horrible occurrences a secret. Furthermore, the investigative squad is going to probe the culprit’s possible prior involvement in a similar crime. He’s been placed under judicial custody and the boy would receive counseling at the school, according to the officials.
The preacher has a strong social media following, with more than 23,000 Facebook followers and over 8,000 YouTube subscribers. His lectures are centred around religion and family.
Thanksgiving is a major national holiday in the United States and Canada that is observed with gusto. The first image that springs to mind when one thinks of Thanksgiving is a turkey; Thanksgiving celebrations are incomplete without eating turkey. While Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate the harvest season and show gratitude for the year’s blessings, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) faced some serious embarrassment this year.
On November 23, PETA took to X to preach to people not to eat turkeys on Thanksgiving and posted an illogical illustration of a ‘family’ of turkeys holding ‘hands’ while sitting around a table set for dinner. The turkeys wear clothing yet preserve their facial traits. In the centre, a plate of roasted human meat on a bed of salad in the centre of the table where the cooked turkey would normally be put is seen. The main dish is surrounded by several dishes.
Along with this illustration, PETA wrote, “We’re lucky turkeys would never do this to us—you don’t have to do it to them, either.”
We’re lucky turkeys would never do this to us—you don’t have to do it to them, either.
Soon after, an X Community Note was added to the said post, which stated that contrary to PETA’s assertion that turkeys would never eat human meat, turkeys are omnivorous and can eat anything they can fit in their mouth, and that if they were larger in size and had the necessary means to farm and eat human meat, they would most probably do so.
According to the article linked with the Community Note, Turkeys are omnivorous and will eat insects, spiders, grubs, mice, lizards, seeds, acorns, fruits, grasses, and forbs. The article goes on to say that an “aggressive tom may charge at the person, chase them, or even attempt to attack by flapping its wings, pecking, or spurring.”
Along with the ironic Community Note, PETA’s X post also received numerous critical and even sarcastic responses with many calling out PETA for suggesting that Turkeys would never eat humans.
One X user wrote, “Looks like we need to get them before they get us. Good PSA.”
Looks like we need to get them before they get us. Good PSA.
Another one replied, “That’s why I like my place on the food chain, at the top. I also don’t swim in the ocean or go beating around the jungle with a pork chop tied around my neck. Humans are omnivores. You don’t have to eat meat. You don’t get to make that choice for anyone else.”
That’s why I like my place on the food chain, at the top. I also don’t swim in the ocean or go beating around the jungle with a pork chop tied around my neck.
Humans are omnivores.
You don’t have to eat meat. You don’t get to make that choice for anyone else. pic.twitter.com/WypwCwMOA8
Notably, PETA was conducting a ThanksVegan campaign in the United States with “turkey showgirls,” star-studded messages to make people celebrate a ‘vegan’ Thanksgiving holiday and “give birds a break”.
PETA’s habit of preaching veganism on festive occasions is not new. Its Indian outfit PETA India is notorious for giving sermons on Hindu festivals. PETA India has a history of shaming Hindu festivals and how they are celebrated. In the past, during Holi, it has urged Hindus to refrain from applying colours at animals and instead opt for vegan thandai. It has also urged Hindus to refrain from lighting fireworks during Diwali in order not to ‘scare’ the animals. However, their determination to promote veganism and protect animals vanishes on Islamic festivals like Bakrid. In a rare display of courage to stand against animal sacrifice on Bakri Eid in Bhopal in 2014, the PETA activists were allegedly assaulted by a mob.
The Mumbai International Airport on Thursday received a “threat” email to blow up its Terminal 2, police said.
The sender of the email has demanded USD 1 million in Bitcoin within 48 hours to avert the blast.
“Sahar police have registered a case against an unknown person for sending the threat mail using the email [email protected],” Mumbai police said.
According to the police, the mail was sent to the feedback inbox of the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) at around 11 am on Thursday.
The threat mail read: “Subject: Blast. Text: This is a final warning to your airport. We will blast Terminal 2 within 48 hours unless one million dollars in Bitcoin is transferred to the address. Another alert will be after 24 Hrs.”
A case under the Indian Penal Code sections 385 (putting a person in fear of injury to commit extortion) and 505 (1) (b) (statements made with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public or against the public tranquillity) has been registered against an unknown person.
Further investigation is underway.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Thursday (23rd November), the Hindu women who participated in the Khatu Sham Yatra in the Nabha region of Punjab’s Patiala district were mistreated by a group of children from the Muslim community. The children threw toilet cleaner on the women after which the latter is said to have developed some serious allergy.
According to the reports, the Hindu community in Nabha had organized a Shobha Yatra on the occasion of Khatu Sham Janmotsav. Hundreds of Hindus participated in the rally and celebrated the occasion together in Nabha.
However, some of the women participating in the rally were mistreated by Muslim children as the rally reached the Sadar Bazar area. The children from lshop belonging to an individual from the Muslim community collected the toilet cleaner from the nearby toilet and threw at the women, causing them rashes and allergies.
The Nabha Police took cognizance of the incident and filed a complaint in the matter. The Nabha SHO confirmed the incident in a video posted by Patiala Police and said that the children belonged to the Muslim community.
“The rally was peacefully passing through the Sadar Bazar area. Some children belonging to the Muslim community threw toilet cleaner at the women from the rally. The children threw the cleaner from a shop that belonged to a Muslim individual. The children were supposedly his relatives. The women have developed severe allergies. No rumors should be spread. Probe underway in this case,” the SHO stated.
He also said that the Police must immediately be informed if something like this happens. “I request people to maintain peace and stop spreading any rumors in this case,” he added.
TV presenter Rajdeep Sardesai is on the ground with “elections on his plate” to follow the campaign trail, which looks more like the Congress trail, or safe to say, the ‘any party but BJP’ trail. The only questions that Rajdeep Sardesai managed to ask in his on-the-go interviews with leaders of Opposition parties and sometimes, the people, were based on what the BJP said and on songs. Yes, songs.
In a video from one such interview now going viral on social media, Sardesai is seen sitting with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and singing a song while asking the latter a question.
For the first time since its inception when the Congress is facing scrutiny from the country at large with demands for accountability, Rajdeep Sardesai towards the end of his interview with Gehlot asked that he has heard that the CM takes interest in Hindi songs.
“When Ashok ji is alone with family at home, not surrounded by anyone, What does he like to listen to?” Sardesai asked critically. Gehlot said he likes listening to old songs. Dissatisfied with a half-hearted answer, Sardesai tweaked his question. He asked, “I am trying to know that there must be something about Ashok Gehlot that the people don’t know.”
Gehlot said it is the same thing about music. Still unable to prove his bonhomie with the Congress, Sardesai rephrased the question, again, as he asked, “Your journey has been very…You have come from a small family in Jodhpur and you have reached to this point today. What has been the biggest challenge before you in all these years?
The Rajasthan CM replied saying, “Nothing, just wanted to work and all priorities were left behind and political activity and the desire to serve was there since childhood.” Naturally, Sardesai’s emo questions appeared as a cue for the Congress leader to paint an image for himself ahead of voting day.
“So 24×7 neta (politician)? You will be a politician for life? No tired, no retired?” Sardesai asked with a broad smile. When Gehlot replied saying that he intends to do service till his last breath, Rajdeep Sardesai broke into an old Hindi song, perhaps to Gehlot’s liking, out of nowhere.
Sardesai recited the tunes of the song “Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate hain” from the 1974 movie “Aap ki kasam” and asked Gehlot whether he remembers that song. Gehlot shrugged with a grin when Sardesai cracked another tune of the song “Musafir hoon yaaron” from the movie “Parichay.
The bonhomie was finally revealed when Sardesai said that India Today is travelling with Ashok Gehlot because the election is being fought by Congress in his name. He said, “Ashok ji you spoke to us, you are travelling across Rajasthan. The election is being contested in your name which is why we are with you because wherever are going, we can see your face. So Congress has given all its eggs to you for hatching.”
The wide smile on Ashok Gehlot’s face put a stamp on just the kind of validation the Congress seeks from its footmen in the mainstream media. Although the Rajasthan CM did not need the flattery coming from Sardesai, he was full of it himself.
This saga lasted only a few minutes towards the end of the interview. The first 30-plus minutes of the conversation were based on Sardesai’s questions about the political statements made by the BJP, the accusations made by the BJP, and the statements made by PM Modi. If Gehlot’s advisors had failed to brief him about the headlines, Sardesai was there to fill in the gaps.
In the interview with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the second last question that Sardesai asked the Congress leader was what change has she seen in herself in the 20 years of her political career. “Learned about the realities of politics,” Priyanka replied.
Finally, in the last question, Sardesai went back to a question about his favourite person, PM Modi. He pointed at the camera and told Priyanka that Modi ji is there (as if he is seeing her live from the India Today camera). “What will you say to BJP who say that you are only seen during elections?” he asked.
Priyanka said that that is their perception and not hers.
Sardesai also visited the campus of Rajasthan University where he assembled a bunch of students outside the Central Library. Speaking to them about the paper leak controversy that has gripped Rajasthan, Sardesai was faced with stark criticism against the Gehlot government and the entire administration.
No issue seems to agitate the young in Rajasthan as much as repeated government exam paper leaks. More than a dozen paper leaks in last 5 years during Cong rule , another 10 in previous tenure of BJP .. ‘we will vote for only those who stop this menace.. else we will enter… pic.twitter.com/RjITzJVq5U
To balance the equation for the sake of balanced journalism, Sardesai crafted a question, asking, “So you are saying the entire system has been captured. Are the Congress, BJP both responsible because paper leaks also happened when there was Vasundhara Raje’s government and it is happening in the Ashok Gehlot government too?”
While some students said both are responsible, others said the paper leak cases have risen under the Congress government. “Those in the system themselves are leaking papers,” a student said.
Another student, who appeared to have seen through Sardesai’s motivated question, replied saying that let’s talk about who is responsible for the present situation, no point talking about the past and the future.
“It is the government of the day that is responsible, there is nothing aage and peeche (ahead and behind). We will talk about the present-day government under which the paper leaks happened in this state, we will hold this state’s government responsible. What happened before, what happened in the neighbourhood, what have we got to do with that?” said the student.
Whether Rajdeep Sardesai captured the pulse of the nation from his armchair to ground election reportage is not for anyone to say, but he must surely have gotten the pulse of the nation, both on social media and on the ground, about the nature of his journalism for sure.
This is not the first time that the veteran journalist has pulled off such stunts. His soft corner for Congress is a widely known fact. In an interview with Sonia Gandhi in 2016, Sardesai’s questions bore less resemblence to the nature of a news interview and more to Simi Garewal’s talk-show “Rendezvous”.
Sardesai’s questions seemed directed not towards Congress leader Sonia Gandhi but towards Indira Gandhi’s daughter-in-law. This was a perfect PR set up for the party two years after its abysmal loss to the BJP in 2014…alas it did nothing to help the Congress in 2019. Albeit, the current Congress trail of Rajdeep Sardesai proves that he is continuing on the same path with utmost loyalty.
Actor Mansoor Ali Khan, who is facing backlash for his alleged misogynistic remarks against his ‘Leo’ co-star Trisha Krishnan, on Friday apologized to the actress.
Mansoor Ali Khan released a statement saying, “My co-actress Trisha, Forgive me. Let the god bless me by having me during your wedding.”
The All Women Police Station (AWPS) of Thousand Lights, Chennai, had issued summons to Mansoor Ali Khan for not appearing at the police station.
The Chennai City Police booked the actor for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Trisha Krishnan. The action was taken on an order to that effect by DGP Shankar Jiwal.
Earlier, the National Commission for Women took suo motu cognisance of the matter and issued directions to the Tamil Nadu police to register a case against the actor.
After summons were issued against him, Mansoor Ali Khan gave a statement asking for more time claiming that he was suffering from a throat infection.
The actor was booked under Sections 354 A (sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to outrage the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.
A video of Mansoor Ali Khan from one of his interviews surfaced on social media, where he is purportedly heard saying that he hoped to have a rape scene in ‘Leo’ starring Trisha just like he had in older films with stars such as Khushboo and Roja.
“When I heard that I was acting with Trisha, I thought there would be a bedroom scene in the film. I thought that I could carry her to the bedroom just like I did with other actresses in my earlier movies. I have done rape scenes in a number of movies and it’s not new for me. But these guys didn’t even show Trisha to me on the sets during the Kashmir schedule,” Khan purportedly said.
Trisha and Mansoor Ali Khan don’t share screen space in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s film ‘Leo’ but have pivotal roles in the film.
Responding to Khan’s remarks, Trisha took to microblogging site X to post, “A recent video has come to my notice where Mr. Mansoor Ali Khan has spoken about me in a vile and disgusting manner. I strongly condemn this and find it sexist, disrespectful, misogynistic, repulsive and in bad taste. He can keep wishing but I am grateful never to have shared screen space with someone as pathetic as him and I will make sure it never happens for the rest of my film career as well. People like him bring a bad name to mankind.”
NCW member and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar also hit out at the actor over his comments, posting on X, “Nobody can get away with such a filthy mind. I stand with @trishtrashers and my other colleagues where this man speaks in such a sexist disgusting mindset about them, including me. When we are fighting tooth & nail to protect women & bring dignity to them, such men are like a blot in our society.”
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Thursday (23rd November), Bharat Rashtra Samiti president KC Rao vowed to set up a special information technology (IT) park for Muslim youth at Pahadishareef if BRS was voted back to power for the third time. Telangana chief minister announced this Muslim-appeasement idea while he was addressing a public meeting at Maheshwaram. Telangana’s Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy is contesting the assembly polls from this constituency.
KC Rao said, “Today, we are giving pensions which Muslims are also getting. We have opened residential schools in which Muslim students also study. We take everyone along with us. Today, we are thinking about Muslim youths and setting up a special IT park for them near Hyderabad. The IT park will come up near Pahadi Shareef.”
KC Rao added, “Telangana is “peaceful” without any law-and-order issues. The BRS government has spent ₹ 12,000 crores towards minority development during the past 10 years against ₹ 2,000 crores spent by Congress during its 10-year regime. As long as KCR is alive, Telangana will remain a secular state. The Telangana Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb is an example to the whole country and we have to maintain that.”
Claiming credit for the separate statehood of Telangana, he said, “Who achieved statehood for Telangana? Who is able to implement 24-hour free power? Who brought tap water to every doorstep?” KC Rao was anticipating the crowd to answer “KCR”.
Quoting KC Rao’s statements, Anand Ranganathan commented in his X post, “Secularism laid bare.”
We spent 12,000 crore towards minority development in the last ten years. If voted to power again, we will set up a special IT park for Muslim youths. As long as I am alive, Telangana will remain a secular state. – Chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao
Criticising KC Rao’s Muslim appeasement, the Telangana state unit of the BJP posted on X, “A former PM once said “Minorities have the first right on India’s resources”. That former PM’s party has been out of power since then. CM KCR is also set to face the same fate. On 3rd December, BRS would be blurred!”
A former PM once said “Minorities have the first right on India's resources”. That former PM's party has been out of power since then.
Notably, this remark by the BJP refers to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s infamous statement in which he said that Muslims have the first right to the resources in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress at a massive rally in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district on 23 November 2023 which was the last day of campaigning for the assembly election in the state. He denounced Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led government and counted the merits of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He took a jab at the ruling party and charged that its claw (Congress symbol) only knows how to loot. He also stated that some people think that hurling abuse at him is going to help them in life.
The rally was organised at Deogarh’s Karni Mata Mela Maidan and commenced with the slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai,’ ‘Charbhuja Nath ki Jai’ and ‘Shrinathji Maharaj ki Jai.’ He asserted that his party was going to form governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The BJP stalwart mentioned that he has travelled to all three states and made these statements in light of his experiences there.
समृद्ध, सुरक्षित और विकसित राजस्थान के लिए मेरे परिवारजन 25 नवंबर को भाजपा की पूर्ण बहुमत वाली सरकार बनाने जा रहे हैं। देवगढ़ में विशाल जनसभा को संबोधित कर रहा हूं। https://t.co/yrAYtuK4B5
The prime minister urged people to cast their votes in large numbers and declared that Ashok Gehlot’s government would never take back office in Rajasthan. He used the local language to drive his point home and proclaimed, “Gahlot ji, koni mile vote ji (Mr Gehlot won’t get any votes). I am saying this on the pious occasion of Dev Uthani Ekadashi. Remember my words. The Gehlot administration would never regain power.”
According to him the purpose of the poll is not just to choose MLAs, Ministers, and Chief Ministers, but to establish the framework for a progressive Rajasthan and a developed India. He stressed that it is imperative to remove the Congress from Rajasthan for this reason. He referred to Ashok Gehlot’s administration as anti-women and accused that all of the BJP’s excellent initiatives were halted as soon as they were elected.
PM Modi announced, “Congress made Rajasthan the most criminal region, but BJP would make it the most investment-friendly state. Rajasthan rose to the top in corruption under the Congress. BJP would make it a leader in industries. Congress made Rajasthan the leader in paper leaks. BJP would make Rajasthan a leader in education and sports.”
He dubbed Congress as a party of scams. “They did corruption even in the purchases that were to be made for the brave soldiers of our country after independence. The country can never forget the Bofors scandal. Congress engaged in helicopter and submarine frauds. Whether it’s land, sea, or both, Congress’s paw always does the same thing and that is a scam.”
The prime minister appealed to voters to oust Ashok Gehlot’s government. “The Election Commission moved the date of the elections to avoid interfering with the numerous weddings that are taking place in Rajasthan these days. Hence the responsibility of Rajasthan increases. You should vote responsibly. There should be more voting than the last election.”
He encouraged BJP leaders and noted, “Many people are unaware of the BJP’s strength. They believe that cussing Modi would move them ahead in life, but they are ignorant of the fact that this is a party that workers have toiled hard to build. This is the kind of party in which four generations have invested their lives in the same dream. Bharat Mata ki Jai.”
The prime minister remarked, “I am fortunate that today the last meeting of the election campaign is taking place here in Deogarh. Today is Dev Uthani Ekadashi and the festival of Tulsi marriage. It is also the holy day of Shri Khatu Shyam Ji’s birth anniversary today. On behalf of the 140 crore people in the nation, I extend my best wishes to the people of Rajasthan and the entire nation for this.”
The voting for 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan is to be held on 25 November and the counting of votes is going to take place on 3 December. The Congress party which is at present in government in Rajasthan wants to create history by winning the elections for the second time in a row. However, BJP is pushing hard to woo the people to come into power in the state.
In the Shivamogga district of Karnataka, a Brahmin schoolgirl has alleged that she was forcefully fed eggs in a mid-day meal at a state-run school in Kammachi village of Hosangara Taluka. On Wednesday, November 22, the class 2 student’s father, V Srikanth, submitted a complaint letter against the Karnataka Public School (KPS) to a Department of Education official in this regard. Notably, V Srikanth is reported to be working as a high school teacher at the same school.
In his letter to Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) CR Parmeswarappa, V Srikanth said that the act of force-feeding eggs to his daughter by an assistant teacher named Puttaswamy has hurt his religious sentiments. He also demanded stern action against the teacher in question and the school’s headmaster. The class 2 student’s father stated in his complaint that they had earlier notified the school authorities that they maintain a strict vegetarian diet. However knowing this, he claimed, the teacher forced fed eggs to his daughter in her mid-day meal at school.
Srikanth informed the DDPI that 26 students are studying in class 2 at KPS, out of whom 10 follow a vegetarian diet. He wrote that his 7-year-old daughter had asked the school authorities to give her Chikkis instead of eggs, however, assistant teacher Puttaswamy told the girl that eggs are good for health. “My daughter fell ill and is mentally disturbed,” Srikanth wrote.
The complaint was also sent to the Minister of Education, Madhu Bangarappa, the Principal Secretary, the Deputy Director of Education, and the local MLA.
Following this, an inquiry has been initiated into the matter. On Thursday, the Block Education Officer and a mid-day meal attendant visited the school in question. “As per the preliminary inquiry conducted, it has come to notice that the incident took place when the midday meal was being served. A group of students was sitting in a row for meals. Just then, the teacher concerned asked the students who preferred to have eggs. So, this particular child also seemed to have raised her hands with the rest of her classmates and so was served egg. But, no student including this child in particular were forced to eat eggs,” Hindustan Times quoted a senior education department official as saying.
Meanwhile, DDPI Shivamogga CR Parmeswarappa has said that the issue has been taken up seriously, however, as per the information received, the girl was not forced to eat eggs. He added that the report submitted by the Block Education Officer will be reviewed and action will be taken if the allegations are found to be true.
However, several media reports claim that the family of the Brahmin girl has said that the teacher pressured the girl for a week to eat eggs and even threatened her against informing anyone about the same.
“For the past week, my daughter was complaining that her teacher was forcing her to eat an egg. I had ignored it. But on November 20, my daughter was silent, When her mother enquired, the child revealed that her teacher had forced her to eat an egg. When we spoke to other class students, they confirmed that all students of class two were made to eat an egg. My daughter was scared. She feared her teacher in her class and at home she was scared of our reaction after she told us that she had eaten an egg. The teacher used our caste and forced her to eat an egg to make a point that people of all castes can eat eggs. We have filed a complaint and are waiting for their response,” Srikanth said in a video, as reported by News9.
On Thursday (23rd November), the Delhi Court fined a woman Rs 1 lakh for lodging a false report alleging sexual misconduct against her five-year-old daughter.
The order was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Susheel Bala Dagar during a hearing in which the girl’s mother faced allegations of giving a false deposition. The judge stated unequivocally that she filed a false complaint out of rage and to avoid daily disputes.
According to the court, the woman filed a false complaint accusing some people of an offense against her daughter that was booked under Section 5 of the Pocso Act (aggravated penetrative sexual assault). “This false information was given to “extort property” from the accused,” it said.
“She has been found to have misused the provisions of the Pocso Act by filing this false case on a false complaint in order to settle the property dispute, thereby leading to humiliation and defamation of the accused persons. She also tried to misuse the criminal justice system,” the court while issuing the order on 17th November.
It stated that people, such as the woman, were “frequently” registering fictitious cases under the Pocso Act for reasons such as land disputes, marriage disputes, personal grudges, political motives, or personal gain in order to humiliate the accused by keeping them in jail for an extended period of time.
According to the court, this was a “blatant abuse of the law,” and such actions diminished the purpose of the legislation.
“Courts have to take a vigilant stance against this growing menace and have to try to weed out the possibility of false allegations without threatening justice due to the victim or the alleged perpetrator,” it said.
“It has been observed that the misuse of even the most stringent legislation to meet one’s personal motives, mostly negative, has been an evident problem in our legal system. Pocso Act too has turned out to be no exception,” the court added.
It stated that Section 22 of the Pocso Act (punishment for false complaints or false information) guarantees that the legislation is not abused.
“In the present case, the complainant has been found to have misused the Pocso Act instead of having recourse of alternative remedy available with her to settle her alleged property dispute,” the judge said.
It was claimed that the woman misled and abused the authority of the law and the executing agency of the law. “Hence a fine of Rs one lakh is imposed on the complainant for the offense under section 22 of the Pocso Act committed by her within one month and in case of default in payment of fine, she shall undergo simple imprisonment of three months,” the court said.
