Grabbing Breasts, Breaking Pyjama String Not Attempt To Rape: High Court

Allahabad High Court has recently ruled that grabbing the breasts of a girl, breaking the string of her pyjama and trying to drag her does not amount to charges of rape or an attempt to rape. Instead, the court asserted that these actions come under the prima facie offences of "aggravated sexual assault".

A bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra modified an earlier trial court order that had summoned two accused, Pawan and Akash, under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 18 (attempt to commit an offence) of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, according to a LiveLaw report.

The High Court directed that the accused be tried under Section 354-B (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe) of the IPC along with Sections 9 and 10 (aggravated sexual assault) of the Pocso Act.