Removing woman's salwar, pressing her chest does not attempt to rape: Patna HC acquits man
The Patna High Court acquitted a man of attempted rape charges, ruling that removing a woman's clothing and pressing her chest constitutes outraging modesty rather than attempted rape. The court cited a lack of medical evidence and insufficient proof of intent to commit penetration.
Why it matters
This ruling highlights the legal distinction between sexual assault and attempted rape under Indian law, sparking debate over judicial interpretation of intent in gender-based violence cases.
PATNA: The Patna high court has held that removing a woman's salwar and pressing her chest, is not sufficient to establish the offence of attempt to rape.According to a report by news website, Bar And Bench, the court made the observation while acquitting a man who had been convicted by a trial court for attempt to rape and wrongful confinement in connection with a 2008 incident at a photography studio in Bihar's Banka district.Justice Purnendu Singh said the allegations, even if accepted in full, amounted to the offence of outraging a woman's modesty under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and not attempt to rape under Sections 376/511 IPC.The case stemmed from a complaint by a woman who alleged that she had accompanied her father to a photography studio in Amarpur.
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