Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 13: The judger of the second additional and district court here, who conducted trial in a case in which a person was accused of sexually harassing a girl, was found guilty of the charge as per the judgement delivered on Thursday September 12. The accused, Shekhar Nalike (45) from Nidle in Beltangady taluk, was handed down three years imprisonment and imposed with a fine of Rs 10,000.

Nalike is a practitioner of native medicine. A woman and her 13-year-old daughter had brought to his home a person, the girl's father, from Nidle, on May 28, 2016. They sought help from Shekhar Nalike to relieve the man of liquor addiction. Shekhar Nalike, on seeing the girl, told the family that the girl was under the influence of evil powers and that an amulet having divine powers needed to be tied to her wrist. For this, he asked the parents to briefly go out.

The parents had complained to Dharmasthala police station, accusing Nalike of committing sexual atrocity on the girl during the period they were sent out. The police had registered case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and arrested the accused the same day. Beltangady police circle inspector Nemiraju, had investigated the case and filed charge sheet.

Judge of the second additional and sessions court B R Pallavi, who heard arguments and counter arguments in the case, found that charges of sexual harassment (section 8 of POCSO Act) and threat (Indian Penal Code section 506) levelled against the accused were proved. The judge imposed three years imprisonment after holding the accused guilty, and ordered him to pay fine of Rs 10,000. Out of the fine amount, Rs 9,000 has to be paid to the girl, the court ordered. The court also asked the district legal services authority to recommend to the government to disburse her additional compensation.

In this case, 12 witnesses were examined. Special public prosecutor Venkataramana Swamy P, had appeared on behalf of the prosecution.