Tutor accused of sexually harassing student, walks free

A tutor has been acquitted of the charge of stalking and sexually harassing his 15-year-old student by a Delhi court after she refused to even identify him.
The court let off the south Delhi resident of the offences under section 354D (stalking) of the IPC and under section 12 (sexual harassment) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
"The prosecutrix in her examination stated that she cannot even identify the accused if he was shown to her. She stated that she did not remember if he was the one who used to give her tuitions," Additional Sessions Judge Balwant Rai Bansal said.

The judge said that from the testimony of the victim and her father, who have not supported the prosecution case, no incriminating evidence has come on record.
"In the facts of the case it would be a futile exercise to carry on the trial as it would only result in wastage of time and resources," the court said.
According to the prosecution, an FIR was lodged by the girl and her father on November 16, 2013 alleging that the accused, who used to visit her house to give her tuition, used to call her on her mobile despite her disinterest.

It alleged that the accused tutor, who was teaching the girl for four years, was removed from service but he kept on calling her up and loitering around her house.
He also sexually harassed her by uttering indecent words with sexual intent, it said.
However, during trial, the girl and her father resiled from their statements after which the court dispensed with the statement of the accused.