Youth gets 2 months jail for molesting woman in crowded bus

A 22-year-old youth, accused of molesting a woman in a crowded bus, has been sentenced to two months in jail by a Delhi court which refused to release him on probation saying it would not have deterrent effect against the rising crimes against women.
Metropolitan Magistrate Shefali Barnala Tandon, however, took into consideration the young age of convict Rizwan, a west Delhi resident, while awarding him the jail term of two months for molesting a woman in a moving bus here in 2012.
"I am not inclined to give benefit of probation to Rizwan as the crime against women is on high rise and releasing him on probation would not have deterrent effect in the society, which is need of the hour.

"Considering his age and keeping in view the present facts and circumstances of the case, convict Rizwan is sentenced to simple imprisonment for a period of two months," the judge said.
While convicting Rizwan, the court relied on testimonies of the victim and police, saying that their statements were "unrebutted".
"All the witnesses examined by the prosecution have duly supported the case qua offence under section 354 (molestation) of the IPC and their statement on record is found to be cogent and inspires the confidence of the court.

"There is no reason to disbelieve the same and there is no material inconsistency and contradictions in the statements," the court said.

According to the prosecution, on January 30, 2012, the victim changed a bus from Mukarba Chowk to go to Adarsh Nagar here, when she realised that Rizwan was following her from quite sometime and he too boarded the same bus.
It said that the bus was crowded and taking advantage of the situation, Rizwan stood close to her and started misbehaving with her by touching her inappropriately.
When despite her repeated warning to maintain distance, he did not stop, the victim raised an alarm and got the bus stopped. She then informed the police and got Rizwan arrested, it said.

During the trial, he had denied the allegations and sought leniency from the court saying that he was young and the sole bread earner for his aged parents.