Man charged under POCSO Act promises to marry minor victim at 18, gets bail

Mangalore Today News Network

Madurai , Nov 07, 2020:    The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has granted bail to a man, who was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, after he promised to marry the 17-year-old victim when she reaches her legal age for marriage.

 

The accused was booked and arrested after he impregnated the minor girl, according to a Bar and Bench report. The man was earlier arrested under various sections of the POCSO Act including Section 6, which deals with penalty for aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor.

However, the court granted him bail after he promised to marry the girl when she reaches the legal age for marriage.

The court asked the accused to marry the victim by October 10, 2021 and produce a Marriage Registration Certificate before the concerned police station. If the accused fails to produce the certificate within the deadline, the police can initiate action against him.

The report further stated that the court took the decision to grant bail after it was informed that the minor girl and the man were closely related and “in love”.

The accused’s lawyer informed the court that the petitioner and the victim fell in love and had a physical relationship, following which she became pregnant. The lawyer implied that the physical relationship was consensual and that the accuse his ready to marry the victim as soon as she turns 18.

The lawyer also requested the bench to grant bail to his client as he had been in jail for more than 50 days.

Courtesy:India Today