College student who ‘harassed’ minor girl told to do community service as bail condition, court notes his ‘good family background’

Police arrested the student on April 4 over allegations that he had continuously harassed a girl through WhatsApp, by stalking her and by making vulgar calls.

The court ordered the student to “render his services” at the Bhopal District Hospital every Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm — irrespective of the trial decision. His role, it said, will be to “assist the patients of the external department in the services provided by doctors and compounders”.

In his plea for temporary bail, the accused argued that “prolonged confinement would negatively impact his academic prospects”.

His lawyer told the court that he has learnt his lesson the “hard way” and would “mend his ways to become a better citizen by not involving in any such activity in future and would not cause any embarrassment/harassment to the complainant’s side in any manner”.

The parents of the accused also turned up in the court, saying they were ashamed of what their son had done and promising he would not repeat his actions.

“Meanwhile, he may engage in creative pursuits and community service so that his alleged ego may be melted and thereafter looking to his conduct, bail be confirmed,” the accused’s counsel suggested to the court.

The court agreed with the suggestion and granted temporary bail. “…it appears that the applicant is a student, therefore, chance be given for course correction so that he can mend his ways to become a better citizen by not involving in criminal activities especially in the nature of Section 354(D) of the IPC and Sections 11 and 12 of the POCSO Act,” the order stated.

The court, setting out the conditions for his community service, said: “He will neither be allowed to go to the operation theatre nor to the private wards nor will he be allowed to administer any kind of medicine or injection etc to the patients. He will not cause infection or discomfort to the patients in any way and the doctors will ensure this so that the applicant plays the role of a helping hand for the said hospital and does not cause any inconvenience to the patients or doctors/hospital administration by any of his actions.”

Opposing the bail, the prosecution stated that the accused “constantly harassed the victim… through WhatsApp mode, by stalking and by calling the victim at any time with vulgar conversation”.

The court said: “After going through the entire case diary and the submissions of respondent/State, it appears that allegations are very ugly in nature and it is not expected from a student of BBA, who intends to make future in Managerial cadre and belongs to apparently good family background.”