A Nagpur court has awarded three years of rigorous imprisonment to a 27-year-old man for secretly filming a minor girl inside the trial room of a clothing showroom in Sitabuldi, holding that such acts constitute a serious invasion of privacy and must invite strict punishment.
Additional District and Sessions Judge P. J. Modak pronounced the verdict on Monday, convicting Nikhil alias Pintu Deepak Chauthmal, a resident of Pachpaoli. Besides the jail term, the court imposed a fine of Rs 4,000, with a further three months’ imprisonment if the amount is not paid.
The accused was convicted under Section 354A of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Section 66E of the Information Technology Act.
The case dates back to August 10, 2019, when the 17-year-old victim visited a garment showroom in Sitabuldi Market with a friend to purchase a school uniform. While she was changing inside the trial room, the accused allegedly used his mobile phone to record her without her consent.
Following the complaint, Sitabuldi Police registered an offence and arrested the accused. The investigation, conducted by then Assistant Police Inspector Shubhada Sankhe, relied on electronic and circumstantial evidence, which formed the basis of the prosecution’s case.
During the trial, the prosecution presented witness testimonies along with digital evidence to establish the accused’s guilt. The State was represented by Public Prosecutor Asavari Parsodkar, while Advocate Y. B. Mandpe appeared for the defence. Court liaison officers Kiran Kaithal and Meenal Lonare assisted during the proceedings.
While delivering the judgment, the court observed that secretly recording women or children in trial rooms or other private spaces is a grave violation of personal privacy and dignity. It stressed that offences of this nature deserve stringent punishment to serve as a deterrent and reaffirm public confidence in the justice system.
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