BENGALURU: In a glaring case of misuse of law by filing frivolous cases, a 20-year-old youth who met a girl through a social networking site and went to watch a movie with her, had to face a criminal charges, including Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012, which was formulated in order to address sexual abuse of children! The High Court has quashed the case against the youth after finding that was a serious miscarriage of justice.
The entire story resembles a boy-meets-girl movie plot. Bhuvan (name changed) got in touch with Shylaja (name changed) on Facebook, and become close friends. They decide to go on a date, including watching a movie.
“It comes to the knowledge of Bhuvan’s father, who took exception to his son's behaviour and chose to question the Shylaja’s father as to how he had allowed his daughter to go out with a man and allegedly sent abusive messages,” the case stated.
An infuriated Shylaja’s father then lodges a criminal case alleging offences punishable under Sec 354(D) and Sec 34 of IPC and Sec 12 of POCSO Act.
“The accusations are therefore now against the petitioner (boy) and the complaint is that all he did was to take his friend for a movie show and in view of ensuing exchange of insults between the respective fathers of the two, it has resulted in a frivolous criminal case which has caused a miscarriage of justice in so far as Bhuvan is concerned,” the court observed.
It observed that the case was a frivolous one and did not merit consideration. The court allowed Bhuvan’s petition seeking to quash the case against him before the special court.
