Molestation near Delhi mall: Court frames charges against three

New Delhi: A Delhi court has framed charges against three youths for allegedly molesting a girl after pulling her into their car and beating her companion near a mall here early this year.

Metropolitan Magistrate Niti Phutela, on the completion of argument on charges, ordered framing of charges against three accused Salim, Saalim and Riyaz. The magistrate read out the charges to all the three accused present in the court to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

"I hereby direct you to be tried by this court for the offence under section 341 (wrongful restrain), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (outraging the modesty of woman), 354A (1)(i)(physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures), 354B(use of criminal force to any woman with the intention of disrobing her in public place) and 323(voluntarily causing hurt), 34 (common intention) of IPC," the magistrate said.

According to the prosecution, on the intervening night of January 6­7, 2014 the girl was walking towards Munirka from Select Citywalk Mall, when three youths pulled her into their car after beating her companion Umesh Singh with sticks. The accused then allegedly molested her by tearing her clothes and touching her inappropriately while her companion was injured, it said, adding that when Singh raised an alarm, the youths fled from the spot.

An FIR was lodged at Malviya Nagar Police Station and all the accused were apprehended later by the police.