Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Court Acquits Man in Sister-in-Law Kidnapping and POCSO Case
A court in Kalyan found a 22-year-old man not guilty in a case involving his 14-year-old sister-in-law.
The complaint said he had taken her and her older sister on a trip and touched the younger girl inappropriately.
During the trial, both sisters said the accused had not behaved improperly or sexually assaulted the girl.
The judge noted that the mother and the accused had a strained relationship because of his marriage to the older sister, which the family had not approved.
The judge said this could have influenced the complaint.
The court also found that the evidence used to show the girl’s age was not adequately supported.
The man was acquitted of the charges.
A Kalyan court acquitted a 22-year-old man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting his 14-year-old sister-in-law.
The complaint alleged the girl and her elder sister left with the accused and visited several places, including Vaishnodevi temple.
At trial, both sisters did not support the prosecution’s case and denied that the accused had behaved improperly or sexually assaulted the girl.
The judge said family tensions related to the accused’s unapproved marriage to the elder sister made it possible the complaint contained allegations intended to settle differences.
The court also cited shortcomings in proving the girl’s age, including reliance on a color photocopy of a birth certificate without supporting testimony from its issuing authority.
- Who
- A 22-year-old man accused of offences involving his 14-year-old sister-in-law.
- What
- He was acquitted in a kidnapping and POCSO Act case.
- When
- The acquittal order was issued on October 9; the report was dated October 11.
- Where
- A court in Kalyan, Thane district, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The judge noted that the sisters did not support the prosecution’s case, the complaint may have been influenced by family tensions, and the prosecution had shortcomings in proving the girl’s age.
Prosecution Allegations
Defence and Court Findings
Alleged conduct
Prosecution Allegations
The mother’s complaint alleged the accused took the sisters on a trip and inappropriately touched the younger girl.
Defence and Court Findings
At trial, the victim and her elder sister denied that the accused had misbehaved or sexually assaulted the girl.
Motive and family dispute
Prosecution Allegations
The complaint led to kidnapping and other charges against the accused.
Defence and Court Findings
The judge said the strained relationship between the mother and accused, linked to his unapproved marriage to the elder sister, made it possible that the allegations were included to settle family differences.
Proof of age
Prosecution Allegations
The prosecution sought to establish that the victim was a minor.
Defence and Court Findings
The court found shortcomings, noting the birth certificate was submitted only as a color photocopy without supporting evidence from the issuing authority.
- Accused
- A 22-year-old man
- Complainant
- The victim’s mother
- Victim’s age stated in report
- 14
- Case
- Kidnapping and offences under the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
- Police station
- Khadakpada police station
- Order date
- October 9
- Judge
- Additional Sessions Judge P. P. Muley
- Age evidence noted by court
- A color photocopy of a birth certificate was submitted without endorsement or supporting testimony from the issuing authority.