Summary:
MUMBAI: Merely twisting a woman's hand or catching hold of a corner of her saree during a quarrel cannot be said to be outraging her modesty, the Bombay high court has ruled. The judge acquitted a father-son duo from Lonavla of the charges of outraging the modesty of a woman in a decade-old case. Justice Anant Badar said that the prosecution has to prove that the accused intended or knew that his act would affect the modesty of a woman. "The case dates back to 2006 when Swarupchand Kankaria and his son Rajesh were booked for outraging the modesty (section 354 of Indian Penal Code) of the daughter-in-law of their landlord. The high court acquitted them of the offence of section 354, but held them guilty of the assault charges..