Image Courtesy:freepressjournal.in

Tasleem, a Muslim bangle seller, who was mercilessly beaten up publicly for his religious identity in Indore recently, has now been denied bail in connection with a case of alleged molestation. 

He was arrested on the complaint of the Class VI student who stated that the man introduced himself as Golu son of Mohar Singh (instead of Tasleem Ali) and molested her while her mother had gone inside the house to get money to pay for the bangles purchased.

A case was registered against him under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 467 (Forgery of a valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (Using as genuine a forged), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC as well as under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The counsel for the applicant submitted that the charges against Tasleem were false and that he was beaten up by the complainant’s father and others from the crowd. He also stated that when Tasleem went to lodge his complaint at first instance, no FIR was lodged and thereafter this case of molestation was lodged against him as an afterthought.

The court denied him bail keeping in mind the grave allegations against the applicant and that investigation is still going on. Moreover, the applicant resides outside of Indore.

Background

The video clip of Tasleem being beaten up by a mob was widely circulated on social media. In the video, it can be seen that someone is tugging at the victim’s shirt and other men are emptying his bag full of bangles he meant to sell to find out what he is carrying in his bag. After discovering that the bags only contained multiple packs of bangles, the man calls out to women in the market and asks them to come and pick up as many bangles as they want. 

He also warned the victim not come back to the area, or be seen in any Hindu locality hence forth. 

Throughout the video, other men continue to hit him and assault him. The youth is constantly joining his hands and begging them to let him go as the mob continues to threaten him and his religious identity. The men then started encouraging more and more people from the crowd gathered to hit the youth and people even come up and beat him black and blue, kicking him, slapping him. The men are then seen pulling his pants looking for money and his ID card. One of the men can even be heard saying that don’t hit in a manner that would leave a mark or visible injury.

Tasleem’s complaint was finally lodged after a crowd gathered outside the police station that a case be registered.

The order may be read here:

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