Showing Middle Finger To Woman Amounts to 'Insulting Her Modesty', Can Land You 3 Years in Jail, Rules Delhi Court
According to a recent Delhi court judgement, gesturing at a woman with a middle finger can land you in jail. In a case registered by a woman against her brother-in-law, the man was found guilty of showing middle finger at the woman and making indecent facial expressions. The accused can face up to three years of prison and a fine, Times of India reported.
Delhi, September 21: According to a recent Delhi court judgement, gesturing at a woman with a middle finger can land you in jail. In a case registered by a woman against her brother-in-law, the man was found guilty of showing middle finger at the woman and making indecent facial expressions. The accused can face up to three years of prison and a fine, Times of India reported. Stealthing, the Non-Consensual Act of Removing Condom During Sex, Could Land You in Jail.
As per metropolitan magistrate Vasundhara Azad, "This undeniably amounts to making utterances or gestures intending to insult the modesty of a woman." IPC Section 498A: Woman Can File Harassment Case Against Husband or His Family From Anywhere, Says Supreme Court.
According to the Times of India report, the woman filed a complaint in 2014 against her brother-in-law for showing her middle finger and physically hurting her. After the investigations, the man was booked under sections 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In 2015, the man pleaded himself not guilty and demanded a trial. The man claimed that the case was a result of a property feud. The prosecution examined four witnesses in the case, including the complainant, reported TOI.
After going through the case, the court did not find any evidence of a property dispute. The court also rejected the defence witness' statement. Judge Azad said that the conviction, in the case, can be based on the sole testimony of the complainant if the same was "trustworthy, reliable and worthy of credence". “Accused stands convicted,” said judge Azad.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2019 07:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).