Mere assault or criminal force would not attract the offence under Section 354 IPC, observed Judicial First Class Magistrate-II judge at Aluva, Santosh TK.
The court emphasised that there must be a culpable intention on the part of the accused to outrage the victim woman’s modesty in order to convict him under Section 354 IPC.
“Mere assault or criminal force does not amount to an offence. The culpable intention to outrage the modesty of the victim is to be proved. Mere holding PW1’s hand and threatened her that he would kill her will not attract offence under Section 354 of IPC,” the judgment stated.
Source: Barandbench
