NASHIK: Seven individuals are accused of stalking and harassing the minor daughter of a Union minister, along with her friends, during their attendance at a village fair in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, last Friday. The suspects allegedly disregarded the constable assigned to escort the girls when he requested to inspect their mobile phones to ensure they had not recorded any videos in secret. On Sunday, one of the suspects was apprehended following the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against all seven men under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as well as various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 75(1) (sexual harassment), 78(2) (stalking), 79 (outraging a woman’s modesty), and 189(2) (unlawful assembly). “We are actively searching for the remaining suspects, and they will be arrested shortly,” stated Muktainagar Deputy Superintendent of Police, Krishnakant Pingle. The minister, who was in Gujarat during the fair, visited the police station to inquire about the investigation’s status. “I approached the police station not as a Union minister, but as a concerned parent. The perpetrators targeted my daughter despite being aware of her identity as the daughter of an MP. One can only speculate on the potential risks faced by other girls. I am advocating for stringent action against those responsible,” he remarked. The opposition seized upon this incident as indicative of the declining law and order situation in the state under the Mahayuti government, questioning how ordinary citizens can feel secure when criminals can harass a Union minister’s daughter and her companions even in the presence of police protection. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule called upon Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to reassess the law and order situation and reassure the public of their safety: “Every girl residing in this state is a daughter of Maharashtra. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure her protection.” Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused Mahayuti politicians of providing cover for criminals, stating, “They may not comprehend the struggles faced by the daughters of ordinary citizens in safeguarding themselves.” Chief Minister Fadnavis indicated that the suspects were affiliated with a political party, which he did not specify. “We will take strict measures against such individuals. They will not escape justice,” he affirmed.
Posco has initiated legal proceedings against seven individuals for allegedly stalking the daughter of a Union minister and her friends during a fair in Maharashtra
