Mumbai: A special Pocso court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to a 17-year-old boy accused of stalking and intimidation of his college mate, observing that disrupting the education of the minor would cause disproportionate hardship.According to the prosecution, the teenager and the victim were students at the same college, who remained in contact through messages and phone calls. After the victim’s father instructed her to stop communicating with him, the teenager allegedly began following her, keeping watch over her, and threatening her father when he refused to arrange a meeting.Considering the educational background and circumstances of the teenager, Special Judge R J Pawar stated that “continued disruption of the applicant’s education and separation from his family at this stage would cause disproportionate hardship, having regard to the protective and rehabilitative object underlying the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015”.“Balancing the above considerations against the legitimate concern of the prosecution and the victim for a fair and unhindered investigation and for the victim’s safety and peace, this court is satisfied that this is a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail, subject to suitable conditions,” the judge added.
