Court Rules ‘I Love You’ Not Enough to Prove Molestation: Man’s Conviction Overturned

In a significant legal decision, the Bombay High Court has acquitted a man previously convicted of molesting a minor. The court’s Nagpur bench stated that the act of saying ‘I love you’ does not, by itself, constitute sexual intent. The case originated from an incident in 2015. The court explained that a sexual act involves inappropriate touching, indecent gestures, or remarks, and forcible disrobing. The man approached the girl, held her hand, and expressed his feelings. He was initially found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment by a sessions court in Nagpur under the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act. The High Court overturned the conviction, stating the initial verdict did not provide adequate evidence to demonstrate an intent to establish sexual contact. The court emphasized that the phrase ‘I love you’ does not inherently show the kind of sexual intention contemplated by the legislature.