Shilpi Nama
On 11th June, 2025, the Supreme Court refused to quash a sexual abuse case against a former judicial officer accused by his daughter of repeated sexual assault. A Bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan termed the case “shocking” and noted the seriousness of the incest allegations, emphasizing the irreversible trauma such abuse could cause.
The former judge is facing charges under IPC Section 354 and multiple sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, including Sections 7, 8, 9(l), 9(n), and 10, relating to repeated sexual assault by a relative.
He approached the apex court challenging a Bombay High Court order that refused to dismiss the charges. His counsel argued that the allegations arose amid a bitter matrimonial dispute and claimed they were a retaliatory act linked to ongoing divorce and custody proceedings. The lawyer further stated that the accusations surfaced years after the alleged incidents, and were absent from previous legal disputes.
Additionally, the defense claimed that the petitioner’s father died by suicide in 2018 and that a note blamed the complainant and her family. The daughter’s complaint, according to the plea, was made soon after that, in January 2019, about incidents that allegedly occurred between 2014 and 2018.
Despite these arguments, the Court was unconvinced, stating it did not wish to delve into the alleged motives or background of the case. “Suicide may be because of the son’s actions,” the Bench remarked, underscoring the gravity of the daughter’s claims.
Dismissing the petition, the Supreme Court directed that the trial be expedited. A chargesheet has been filed, but the Special POCSO Court has yet to frame charges.
Case Name: Sandeep V. The State Of Maharashtra & Ors.
Case Number: Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 8753/2025
Bench: Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan
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