Mumbai Man Freed After 8 Years: 'Scanty' Evidence in POCSO Case
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A Mumbai court has acquitted a 56-year-old man after eight years in prison for allegedly assaulting a 17-year-old girl with intellectual disabilities. The special POCSO court found significant gaps in the prosecution's case, including discrepancies in the girl's age, cognitive abilities, and medical evidence. According to the court, the prosecution failed to establish the basic facts necessary to support the allegations, citing a lack of credible documentation and inconsistencies in witness statements. The judge noted that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove the accused's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case dates back to 2017, when the girl's mother reported that a neighbour, who worked as a driver, had allegedly kissed and had physical contact with her. However, the prosecution's attempts to prove the girl's age and cognitive abilities were met with doubts by the court. The judge also questioned the reliability of the birth certificate and school certificate presented as evidence. In the end, the court found it was unable to prove the accused's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and thus acquitted him. The case highlights the challenges of proving POCSO cases, where the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. The acquittal brings an end to the man's eight-year imprisonment, but also raises questions about the reliability of evidence in such cases.
