A Delhi court has handed down a rigorous five-year sentence to a 34-year-old man found guilty of sexually harassing a minor on social media and criminally intimidating her. The court emphasized that it is the responsibility of society to protect children from cyber stalkers and bullies, noting the profound impact that sexual abuse in childhood can have on a child’s psyche.
Additional Sessions Judge Sushil Bala Dagar presided over the case against the convicted, Akhilesh Kumar, who was charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court was convinced by the arguments of public prosecutor Yogita Kaushik Dahiya that Kumar had engaged in sexual harassment of the minor by creating a fake identity, making sexual comments, and persistently trying to contact and follow her online despite her clear lack of interest.
The court noted that the convict had been sending the victim continuous intimidating messages, blackmailing her, and pressuring her to become his “online girlfriend.” He would request kisses, talk about sex, and threaten to alter her photos to create obscene images if she resisted his advances or refused to accept his friendship.
In a March 13 ruling, the court declared, “It is collectively the responsibility of society to care for its children and protect them from exploitation at the hands of sexual predators, including cyber stalkers and criminals.” The court found Kumar guilty of cyberstalking and cyberbullying the child, highlighting the violation of the victim’s privacy through the creation of a fake account and the lifelong scars such actions would leave on the victim.
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Kumar was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 12 of the POCSO Act for sexual harassment and an additional two years under IPC Section 506 for criminal intimidation. He was also fined ₹1 lakh.
The court further remarked on the lasting psychological damage caused by sexual abuse in childhood, which hinders the physical and psychological development of victims. Such offenses might seem isolated to the perpetrator but can profoundly impact the life of an innocent child. The court awarded the victim a compensation of ₹3 lakh.
