Sapan Kumar Bhattacharya (56), the joint block development officer of Kurseong sub-division, was found to have molested a minor in 2013 on the pretext of giving her official favours.
After the court verdict, public prosecutor Pranay Rai said, “The additional sessions first court judge Subash Kumar Kar convicted Bhattacharya, a resident of Deshbandu Para in Siliguri, and sentenced him to three years RI along with a fine of Rs20,000.”
According to the PP, the incident happened on June 4, 2013 at the Kurseong joint BDO’s chamber when Bhattacharya made advances towards the victim, then a minor. “The accused was the joint BDO of Kurseong and the victim had gone to him to get some documents attested. In the course of attesting the documents, the official made sleazy comments about her physical features and her dress up,” Rai said.
The PP said Bhattacharya also promised to buy the victim a mobile phone and touched her inappropriately while she was leaving his chamber. “He (Bhattacharya) touched the victim and also tried to lure her with promises of gifts if she cooperated and gave in to his ill-advances,” Rai said.
The victim, still in a state of shock at what had happened, went home and narrated her ordeal to her parents, who filed an FIR the same day against the official with the Kurseong police station. The police reacted on the complaint immediately and arrested Bhattacharya that evening, June 4, 2013. He was charged under the Protection of
Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act 2012. However, Bhattacharya was given bail on July 8, 2013 and had been appearing for hearings till his conviction today.
The public prosecutor said the court also directed that Rs15,000 from the fine amount of Rs20,000 be given to the victim as compensation. (EOIC)
According to The Telegraph, it has been written as -
The block development officer of Mainaguri in Jalpaiguri district was sentenced to three year imprisonment and fined Rs 20,000 today for sexually harassing a minor three years ago.
He was granted temporary bail later today.
Public prosecutor Pranay Rai said:
"Swapan Kumar Bhattacharjee (56), the block development officer of
Mainaguri, was sentenced to three year imprisonment and a fine of Rs
20,000, failing which he would have to undergo simple imprisonment for
another year. The sentence was announced by Subash Kumar Kar, the
additional sessions first court judge in Darjeeling."
"On June 4, 2013, the victim, who was 16
years old then, had gone to come to the officer to get her Madhyamik
certificates attested. Inside his chamber, Bhattacharjee told the girl
that she was very weak weal and feeble and asked her the reason for
being so skinny," said Rai."The officer told the then advised the girl
to wear a red inner wear instead of white a white inner wears and then
put his hand on her chest. He also asked for her phone number and when
she said that she had no phone, he even offered to give her a one
mobilephone," said Rai added. "As the girl tried started running out of
his the chamber, Bhattacharjee held her hand and kissed her palm and
told her telling her that he had developed an attraction for her and
that he was infatuated by her. ," said Rai.
"The convict (officer) also assured to do all her official work whenever needed." said the public prosecutor.
The girl left the victim came out of the
office crying and later told her the mother about the incident. , said
the prosecutor. the same day also , however, when the court found him
guiltyThe sentence was announced todaysentenced according to He wasThe
officer was, however, granted "temporary bail" later in the day by the
same court to allow him to appeal against the sentence. "He applied for
bail and The court granted him temporary bailso that he can approach a
higher court," said Rai.
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