A district court in Madhya Pradesh acquitted Taslim Ali on Tuesday, who had been accused of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a woman after being assaulted by a mob in Indore in 2021. Taslim, a 25-year-old bangle seller from Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, was attacked and threatened by the mob for selling bangles in a Hindu-majority area. After the assault, he filed a police complaint, but the mob later filed a cross-FIR, accusing him of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The court has now cleared him of all charges.
The mob had reportedly snatched bangles worth 25,000, a mobile phone, cash of 10,000 rupees and various personal documents from Taslim after brutally assaulting him.
The incident was recorded in a video. The assaulters could be heard threatening him that he shouldn’t enter the “Hindu area.” They also alleged him to have faked his identity and harassed women in the area.
After the girl’s statement, who alleged that Taslim had touched him inappropriately, he was charged under various sections including Section 354 for outraging a woman’s modesty, 354A for sexual harassment, 467 for forgery, 468, 471, 420 and others under the Indian Penal Code. The charges also included Sections 7 and 8 of POCSO Act.
Ali spent 107 days in jail and was granted bail by the Madhya Pradesh high court. The court noted that he had no criminal record and all the accusations did not demand continued custody. He was found guilty of all charges by the trial court today.
Upon being granted bail, Ali’s lawyer accused the court as being politically motivated and called out the deliberate attempts to delay bail.
“I had complete hope and faith in the constitution. Truth always wins. I thank everyone who was my support in this tough fight,” Taslim rejoiced after being acquitted of all charges.
