Yamunanagar court delivers 7-year sentence in minor girl's harassment case within 5 months 25 days
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Ranjana Aggarwal in Yamunanagar has sentenced
Shahbaz Khan
alias Ashu (35) to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for committing obscene acts and harassing a 14-year-old minor girl to forcibly befriend a boy.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday, just five months and 25 days after the complaint was filed.
According to public prosecutor Gurudev Tandon, the case dates back to an incident in the Hamida area under Yamunanagar City Police Station jurisdiction. A 14-year-old girl received a phone call that visibly distressed her. When her father inquired, she revealed that a man had been continuously harassing her and coercing her into forming a friendship with a boy, who belongs to another community.
Recognizing the seriousness of the matter, her father promptly lodged a police complaint. The father reported that on November 18, 2024, he overheard a conversation between his daughter and her friend in which it was revealed that a man had been stalking, harassing, and forcing the girl into a friendship. The girl further disclosed that the accused had made obscene gestures and threatened to kill her if she informed her parents.
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ASDJ Ranjana Aggarwal said in her order, 'The convict has committed extremely serious offences. These kinds of offences, if allowed to continue unchecked, have the potential to jeopardize the sovereignty and integrity of our country.'
Taking swift action, the police launched an investigation led by Woman ASI Meenakshi. A thorough scientific investigation was conducted, and the prosecution presented strong evidence in court.
The case was closely monitored under the "Operation Conviction" initiative, with a dedicated monitoring cell ensuring effective legal follow-up.
The police recorded the minor girl's statement before a magistrate and arrested the accused, identified as Shahbaz Khan alias Ashu. The court is also handling a separate case related to the juvenile boy involved in the coercion attempt.
Prosecutor Tandon stated that the court had already found Shahbaz guilty in the case, and the sentencing was announced on Thursday.
The court imposed sentences under Section 8 (punishment for sexual assault) with 17 (punishment for abetment) and 12 (punishment for sexual harassment) with 17 of the POCSO Act and 351 (2) (criminal ) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: four years, two years, and one year respectively. The terms will run consecutively, meaning the convict will serve each sentence one after the other.
Tandon further revealed that Shahbaz had faced a similar accusation earlier, but the case had collapsed due to witnesses withdrawing their statements.
However, in the present case, the minor stood firm in her testimony before the magistrate, and her family members and other witnesses remained consistent in their statements, leading to the conviction.
Calling it a landmark judgment, Tandon praised the judiciary for delivering justice in under six months—a rare feat in such cases. This ruling is seen as a strong message against harassment of minors and a testament to the importance of prompt and fearless witness testimonies.
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