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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court, while affirming the conviction of a man for sexually exploiting six intellectually challenged minors observed that it is unfortunate that in recent times people knock on the doors of tantriks/babas.

“It is an unfortunate reality of our times, that people, at times knock on the doors of so called tantrics/babas, for a solution to their problems and that these so called tantrics/babas, take advantage of the vulnerability and blind faith of these people and exploit them. The so called, tantrics/babas not only exploit their vulnerability, by extracting money from them, but also many a times, sexually assault the victims, under the guise of providing solutions,” the order states.

The division bench of the high court, consisting of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Manjusha Deshpande, was hearing an appeal filed by the man challenging the trial court's decision that convicted him for sexually exploiting six intellectually challenged minors.

The prosecution contended that the tantrik/baba had sexually exploited the six girls under the pretence of curing them. Additionally, it was alleged that, in the guise of providing a cure, the baba took Rs. 1.3 crores from the parents of the girls.

The case against the tantrik was filed in 2010, and he was convicted in 2016, with the sessions court awarding him life imprisonment. The tantrik subsequently filed an appeal before the high court.

However, the high court, in its order, stated that the prosecution had successfully proven its case against the tantrik beyond a reasonable doubt, thereby confirming the tantrik's conviction.

“This is one such bizarre case of blind faith. It is extremely unfortunate that 7 young girls, 6 minors and 1 maid were sexually exploited by the appellant, as the 6 minor girls’ mothers feared that the girls would beget intellectually challenged boys. The appellant took full advantage of the apprehension of the victims mothers and by manipulating their fears, assured to cure the girls and in the process, also financially exploited them. The 6 victim girls all came from good families, and were economically well off and yet because of the fear of their mothers became victims of the appellant,” the order reads.

The court dismissed the appeal filed by Tantrik, noting that considering the manner in which he sexually assaulted seven girls, including six minor girls and another girl, it was not a case where the sentence should be reduced to time already served.

The court upheld the conviction and the life imprisonment awarded by the sessions court

Case title: Mehandi Kasim Jenul Abidin Shaikh vs State of Maharashtra