Grabbing minor's breasts not enough to charge accused with rape bid: HC

THE Allahabad High Court refused to acknowledge grabbing the breasts of a minor girl along with breaking her pyjama strings, and trying to drag her beneath the culvert, an enough act to charge an accused with the offence of rape, or an attempt to rape.

- NAMITA BAJPAI @ Lucknow

A single judge bench of the court observed it was an act of "aggravated sexual assault". With the above observation, the high court in its March 17 order, modified a summon order, altering the charges against the two accused.

According to the prosecution, Pawan and Akash, grabbed the breasts of the 11-year-old victim and Akash broke the string of her pyjama and tried to drag her beneath the culvert. However, as witnesses intervened, accused fled the spot.