Kurla man sentenced to three years for inappropriate touching of 14-year-old at bus stand
Kurla
A Special POCSO Court in Mumbai has sentenced a 35-year-old man from Kurla to three years’ rigorous imprisonment for molesting a 14-year-old boy in 2018.
Mumbai, November 28, 2025 – A Special POCSO Court has sentenced a 35-year-old Kurla resident, Anand Balu Jadhav, to three years of rigorous imprisonment for molesting a 14-year-old boy at the Kurla bus stand. The incident, which took place early in the morning in November 2018, resurfaced in court this year after the trial concluded with the judge accepting the child’s testimony as reliable and consistent. The court noted that the victim’s account, backed by school records and witness statements, was sufficient to establish guilt.
According to the case details, the minor was waiting near the bus stand when the accused approached him, touched him inappropriately and made indecent comments. Shocked and scared, the boy ran directly to a nearby police post. Officers responded immediately and detained Jadhav at the spot. During the investigation, the police confirmed the child’s age with school documents and gathered statements from his mother and school staff to build the case.
The prosecution presented eight witnesses, including the boy, his mother and police officials from Kurla station. The court observed that under the POCSO Act, a child’s testimony can be the sole basis for conviction if found trustworthy. In this case, the judge found the victim’s statement detailed and free from contradictions. The court also noted that the accused acted with clear sexual intent, which satisfies the requirements under relevant sections of the Act.
While awarding the sentence, the court granted Jadhav a setoff for the 11 months and 13 days he had already spent in custody. It also directed that the case be forwarded to the District Legal Services Authority to determine appropriate compensation for the child. The judge emphasised that such incidents leave lasting emotional effects on minors, and compensation is an essential part of the justice process.
The verdict has been welcomed by child-rights groups and local residents who have been calling for stronger enforcement of laws protecting minors. They say the decision sends a message that offences against children — even those not involving major physical harm — will be taken seriously and punished strictly. Many also pointed out that the long delay between the incident and the conviction highlights the need for faster disposal of POCSO cases, though they acknowledged that securing a conviction after several years shows the system’s ability to deliver justice if evidence is preserved well.
For Kurla residents familiar with the case, the sentencing has brought closure. Several people who followed the trial expressed relief that the court did not dismiss the matter due to the time gap and instead relied on the victim’s consistent testimony. Police officials involved in the investigation stated that immediate reporting by the minor played an important role in preserving critical details that later helped the prosecution.
The case serves as a reminder that even brief moments of harassment can have deep consequences for young victims. With this verdict, the court has reinforced that no act of sexual misconduct against a minor is too small to prosecute, and offenders will face strict punishment under the POCSO Act.
