The Meghalaya High Court has declined to interfere with the ongoing proceedings in the trial court where a POCSO case has been registered against a woman accused of sexual trafficking of a minor girl.
Anita Sharma had moved the High Court challenging the chargesheet filed against her by the Madanrting police for which a case against her is being tried by the Special POCSO Court, Shillong in Special POCSO Case No. 41 of 2021.
Raising certain technical aspects, Sharma had challenged the chargesheet against her under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 and Section 17 of the POCSO Act.
However, on the technical aspect raised by Sharma, the High Court declined to intervene but left it to the petitioner to agitate the matter before the trial court.
“A cursory perusal of the materials available on record including the said report under Section 173 CrPC would show that a very strong prima facie case has been established showing the involvement of the petitioner in the case and the statement of the victim who is a minor is very lucid and clear, wherein the petitioner herein was clearly implicated. Following the guidelines in the Bhajan Lal’s case, this court is of the considered opinion that the petitioner has not been able to make out a case for exercise of its inherent power under Section 482 CrPC. Accordingly, this petition is hereby dismissed as devoid of merits and the same stands disposed of,” Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said in his order passed today.
Sharma was accused of confining a minor girl from Shillong who went to stay with her in Delhi.
It was also alleged that the girl was forcefully made to sleep with a number of people who are the clients of Sharma. Having been dragged into the sex trade, the girl finally escaped and came back to Shillong.
