Man gets one-year jail term for flashing at teen girl in first class compartment

The incident took place on September 18, 2018, when the girl was traveling from CSMT railway station around 2.40pm after attending college in South Mumbai to her home in Navi Mumbai.

According to submissions made by special public prosecutor Geeta Sharma, three witnesses were examined during the trial, including the 16-year-old. (File Photo)

A special court this week sentenced a man to one year in jail for flashing at a 16-year-old girl in the first class compartment of a local train.

The incident took place on September 18, 2018, when the girl was traveling from CSMT railway station around 2.40pm after attending college in South Mumbai to her home in Navi Mumbai. She entered the first class compartment but no passengers were present. The accused entered the compartment and sat across from her. He then flashed at her and made obscene gestures. She began shouting and called the police dialling 100, who then caught the accused at the next station and arrested him. The accused, identified as Ganesh Shete, was booked under relevant sections including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

According to submissions made by special public prosecutor Geeta Sharma, three witnesses were examined during the trial, including the 16-year-old. The accused had no other counter to the allegations other than denial and that the victim’s testimony, including the narration of the events and identification, of the accused was reliable, Sharma submitted in court.

The accused had sought leniency on the ground that he is unwell and resides with his mother.

“Considering the submission of both parties, accused has committed the offence of sexual harassment in the running train by taking the advantage that victim was alone in the compartment. Accused was caught immediately after the incident,” judge P N Rao said. The court also directed that the case be heard before the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to give compensation to the victim appropriately. The accused was also directed to pay a fine of Rs 1500.