HC acquits AAP MLA Lalpura, 7 others in 2013 molestation case

AgenciesHC acquits Punjab AAP MLA, seven others in 2013 molestation case Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted AAP MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura and seven others in a 2013 molestation and assault case following a compromise between the two parties.

Allowing the petition, the bench of Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya set aside the judgement of a court in Punjab's Tarn Taran, convicting and sentencing the MLA and seven others to four years of imprisonment in last September.

Also Read: Calcutta High Court dismisses PIL challenging transfers of IAS, IPS officers by EC in poll-bound BengalThe bench also quashed the FIR registered in March 2013 at the Tarn Taran police station under different sections of the IPC along with the provisions of the SC/ST Act.

The complainant woman, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, had alleged that she was assaulted by the accused, including Lalpura and some police personnel from Tarn Taran on March 3, 2013.

Live EventsThe incident took place when the complainant along with her family members visited Tarn Taran for a wedding function. At that time, Lalpura was a taxi driver.

In its order on Monday, the court acquitted all the eight persons, including the MLA from Khadoor Sahib assembly seat, of all charges for all intents and purposes. The court noted that the petitioners have no criminal antecedents.

Also Read: Banks take backseat: Bombay High Court upholds PMLA supremacy in asset recovery"The offences alleged are not heinous in nature and cannot be termed as crime against the society; nor do they show mental depravity of the petitioners.

Besides, the incident is about 13 years old and nothing untoward has happened between the parties thereafter," the court said.