Navi Mumbai: A Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Alibag convicted and sentenced a molestation accused to simple imprisonment of seven days along with a fine of Rs 1000.

The accused, identified as Haresh Mahadev Patil (42), was arrested within 24 hours of the crime and also convicted in next 24 hours. Within 48 hours of the crime, Raigad police arrested the accused and filed a chargesheet after which the accused accepted his crime and pleaded for minimal punishment.

As per the court orders, the prosecution demanded for maximum punishment citing the crime was against a woman. Meanwhile, the defence pleaded for a minimal punishment as it was his first crime.

On March 11, at approximately 5.30 pm. a woman visiting Kanakeshwar Temple was stopped and molested by the convict Patil. Based on her complaint, the Mandwa Coastal Police Station registered a case under IPC Sections 74, 78(2), and 79.

“We immediately arrested the accused and a chargesheet too was filed along with presenting the accused before the court, within 24 hours,” assistant police inspector Dipak Bhoi from Mandwa Coastal police station said. On March 12, the chargesheet was filed.

According to the complaint, the victim was visiting Kanakeshwar Temple when the accused stopped her repeatedly, demanding her phone number and insisting on speaking. The accused also made lewd gestures and inappropriate remarks, including ‘Oh my sweet darling.’

JMFC Alibag verified the incident and asked the accused if he accepted to be guilty. After the chargesheet was filed, the charges were read and explained to the accused, including the potential consequences of pleading guilty, such as the impact on government job opportunities. The accused voluntarily confessed to the crime, said the court order.

On March 13, JMFC Isha Ghadge convicted and sentenced the accused for seven days and a fine of Rs 1000. The convict Patil, worked as a labourer and resided at Narangi village in ALibag taluka. Under Sections 78(2) and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Penal Code), the accused was found guilty.