Bombay High Court: ‘I Love You’ Declaration Not Proof of Molestation; Man Acquitted

The Bombay High Court has acquitted a man previously convicted of molestation, ruling that the phrase ‘I love you’ alone does not indicate sexual intent. The case involved a 2015 incident in Nagpur where a man approached a 17-year-old girl, held her hand, and expressed his feelings. The girl reported the incident, leading to the man’s conviction under the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act and a three-year prison sentence by a Nagpur sessions court. Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke of the High Court stated that a confession of feelings does not violate a woman’s modesty and that sexual intent involves actions such as inappropriate touching or indecent gestures. The High Court overturned the lower court’s decision because there was no evidence to show an attempt by the man to establish sexual contact. The High Court determined that the prosecution failed to sufficiently establish sexual intent on the man’s part. The judges clarified that the act of expressing love doesn’t satisfy the legal requirements for a molestation conviction.