A special court in Mumbai on Monday convicted and sentenced a travelling ticket examiner (TTE) to one year in jail for his deliberate act of insulting the modesty of a 17-year-old girl in 2017. The court described the incident as an example of ego clashes and a young victim's fight against corruption.
Case Details
The incident occurred on July 13, 2017, when the girl and a male friend traveled from Ambernath to CSMT for admission to an arts college. Upon arrival, two TTEs stopped them, accusing them of a break journey violation and demanding a fine of Rs 540. When the students explained they only had Rs 200, the officials took the money but refused to provide a receipt, leading to a prolonged dispute across different platforms and offices at the station. Within about two hours, the TTE Ramchandra Khatape, along with the girl's father and her uncle, an advocate, arrived. The uncle tweeted about the incident.
Verbal Abuse
Angered by the family's resistance and the social media post, Khatape verbally abused the girl. He told her that she had likely stepped off a train with a boyfriend and was roaming around in the name of college, adding that she had grown wings. Following the verbal abuse, the girl was made to pay the full fine to be let go. Khatape then took a parting shot, suggesting she take money from him to buy a loaf of ice and place it on her father and uncle's heads.
Court's Observations
Special judge S V Sahare noted that the accused, a government servant in the railway department meant to serve the public, used obscene words and threatened the girl. Such behavior was not expected from a matured person at the age of 46, the judge remarked. The court acquitted Khatape of charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act due to lack of proven sexual intent but found him guilty under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
The court dismissed the claim of false allegations, reasoning that no family member would risk a young girl's reputation by falsely attributing such derogatory language to her. It also noted that refusing to give a payment receipt showed the TTEs just wanted to grab the money. Witnesses included the girl, a friend, her father, and her uncle.
The case highlights the misuse of authority and the importance of protecting women from public humiliation and corruption. The sentence serves as a deterrent against such behavior by public servants.
