THANE: A 14-year-old girl from MiraRoad admitted in the Thane Special Court that she filed false allegations against her stepfather out of anger, leading to his acquittal by Special POCSO Judge Ruby U Malvankar.
The case, which led to the stepfather’s five-month imprisonment, was filed in early 2021.
The initial complaint alleged inappropriate touching and showing of obscene videos, accusations that both the girl and her mother later retracted in court.
During the court proceedings, both key witnesses—the victim and her mother—testified that the complaint stemmed from anger over the stepfather’s disciplinary actions.
The mother admitted to filing an “exaggerated version” of events, believing the police would only detain him briefly.
On oath, the victim stated that the accused, who is her stepfather, used to beat her when she committed any mistake, and on the relevant day, he also beat her as he thought she was using his mobile. Upon being beaten, in a fit of anger, the complaint was lodged.
She completely denied that the accused used to show her obscene videos and would touch her inappropriately.
She also denied that the accused had filmed her while bathing.
Judge Malvankar in the order noted that with both prime witnesses failing to support the prosecution’s case, continuing the trial would have been futile, as the Investigating Officer’s evidence would have been reduced to “nothing more than that of a technicality and/or formality.”
The case background revealed that the family, consisting of the girl, her mother (who lost her first husband), and the accused (her mother’s second husband), were living together in MiraRoad when the incident occurred.
