Meerut: The court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM) in Baghpat has ordered trial proceedings against former Baghpat district jailer in a case involving “molestation” and “misconduct” with a woman deputy jailer. The accused, who is now posted in a different district, has been directed to appear before the court for a hearing scheduled on Nov 6.In her complaint, the 30-year-old deputy jailer stated that on Jan 1, 2025, there was a New Year get-together in Baghpat. The accused asked everyone to leave, stopped her and began molesting her. She hid in the bathroom and managed to somehow save herself. She narrated her ordeal the next day.An FIR was registered against the jailer for “attempt to rape” and “an intent to outrage a woman’s modesty”, and a chargesheet was filed in the case. During the hearing, the defense counsel argued that such an incident was improbable given the presence of “hundreds of inmates and security personnel inside the jail”.Admitting the argument, CJM Ratnam Shrivastava struck down the “attempt to rape” charge from the case and ordered that the case will now proceed under sections related to molestation and assault.The court’s Oct 6 order stated: “After reviewing the case records and legal arguments, the judge decided to proceed with charges under sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of BNS.”
