LAKSHMANAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is the accused in Crime No.3461/2021 of Moovattupuzha Police Station, Ernakulam District alleging commission of offences under under Sec. 354 A (1) (i) of the Indian Penal Code and Sec. 7 read with Sec. 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

(2.) The prosecution allegation is that the petitioner committed sexual assault on the minor victim girl by hugging her and grabbing her thighs and breast and despite the victim trying to escape from the clutches of the petitioner, the petitioner did not release the victim.

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the allegations are totally baseless. It is submitted that the family of the victim girl and the petitioner were close friends and he had intervened to settle some marital disputes between the parents of the victim girl. It is submitted that the victim girl had stayed at his house once and the allegations were raised thereafter solely with the intention of defaming the petitioner. It is submitted that the petitioner has been in custody from 12-10-2021 and further custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not necessary for the purpose of investigation into the matter.