Man sentenced to 3 years in jail for sexually harassing a minor

Hyderabad:  On Monday, the Ranga Reddy District Court convicted a plumber to three years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually harassing a minor girl in 2017.

The accused identified as Mohammed Rasool, was convicted under various sections of the Criminal Procedure CodeIndian Penal Code, and Section of the Posco Act. Rasool, a 38-year-old resident works as a plumber in the Boduppal, Medchal area, where he resides.

The victim told the court that she was staying with her Grandmother while her mother was in Saudi Arabia. On April 4, 2019, Rasool entered her Grandmother’s house. After repairing the tap he called the 12-year old minor into the kitchen to check if the water is leaking or not. He then grabbed her from behind and sexually assaulted her as she cried. Despite trying to escape by kicking his leg, she couldn’t break free. The girl testified that “After I started screaming, my Grandmother arrived and then he released me.”

A week later, when the girl was in the elevator with her 10 year old sister and brother, the accused barged into the lift. He then forcibly grabbed the younger sister into his arms. Rasool then let her go when the lift stopped. The three then fled away from the offender.

Upon her mother returning from Saudi, she narrated both incidents. This immediately prompted her to lodge a complaint with the Ghatkesar Police Station after which a case was registered against the plumber.

Subsequent to analyzing the CCTV, the police arrested the perpetrator and remanded him to judicial custody. During the trial on Monday, the Ranga Reddy District Court convicted the suspect to three years of rigorous imprisonment while also slapping on him a fine of Rs. 2000.