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HC stays trial court proceedings against BJP spokesperson in a matter linked to a Pocso case
The case was registered by the Delhi Police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act in June 2021, after Shankar allegedly posted on social media a copy the FIR concerning the arrest of a 42-year-old woman who allegedly sexually assaulted and threatened a minor girl in Delhi.
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed the trial court’s proceedings against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor till March 23 in relation to a case registered after he allegedly shared a copy of an FIR linked to a Pocso case.
The case was registered by the Delhi Police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act in June 2021, after Shankar allegedly posted on social media a copy the FIR concerning the arrest of a 42-year-old woman who allegedly sexually assaulted and threatened a minor girl in Delhi.
A bench of justice Ravinder Dudeja issued the order after hearing Kapoor’s petition against the trial court’s October 4 order, which directed framing charges against Kapoor under Section 23 of the Pocso Act for “disclosing” the identity of a sexual assault victim.
Kapoor’s counsel, Pawan Narang, argued that the screenshots allegedly disclosing the FIR were neither legible nor clear enough to reveal the victim’s identity. He further contended that the impugned order was both “erroneous” and “perverse”.
The court directed the Delhi Police as well as the victim to file its response, till the next date of hearing—March 23.
