Ravindra s/o Laxman Narete vs State of Maharashtra, 2025

The appellant, Ravindra Narete, was accused of sexually harassing a minor girl, a student of Class 11, while she was returning home from tuition on October 23, 2015.

According to the FIR, the accused approached her on a motorcycle and told her “I Love You” and insisted on knowing her name.

The victim, scared by the incident, informed her parents. A complaint was filed, and criminal proceedings were initiated.

The Sessions Court, Nagpur, convicted the appellant in 2017 and sentenced him to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹5,000.

The High Court quashed the conviction and allowed the criminal appeal.

The Court held that Mere expression of “I Love You” without accompanying sexual acts, gestures, or overtures cannot be considered sexual harassment under the law.

The law requires “sexual intent” behind the act, which must be objectively proved through evidence and circumstances.

There was no indication from the prosecution’s witnesses or evidence that the accused acted with sexual overtone or intent to sexually harass.

The Sessions Court had erred in inferring intent without a proper evidentiary basis.

The ruling marks a significant clarification on the interpretation of "sexual intent" under the POCSO Act and IPC.

The Court drew a clear line between inappropriate behavior and criminal conduct by requiring intentional sexual overture for an act to qualify as sexual harassment.

It emphasized judicial caution in criminalizing expressions without solid proof of malicious or sexual intent, especially when dealing with verbal expressions.

This judgment balances the protection of minors with the principle of presumption of innocence, ensuring that minor social missteps are not criminalized without justification.

However, the judgment also reiterates the importance of victim testimony, contextual assessment, and evidentiary scrutiny.