Grabbing breasts, snapping pyjama string is aggravated sexual assault, not attempt to rape: HC
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Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has ruled that grabbing the breasts of an 11-year-old girl, breaking her pyjama string, and attempting to drag her beneath a culvert constitute aggravated sexual assault but do not amount to rape or an attempt to rape.
The incident took place in 2021 when the accused, Pawan and Akash, allegedly offered a lift to the child before assaulting her. However, they fled when passers-by intervened. Initially, the Kasganj trial court directed that they face charges under s. 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rape and s. 18 of the POCSO Act.
A single-judge bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra modified the charges, ruling that the accused should be tried under s. 354-B IPC (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe) along with ss. 9/10 of the POCSO Act (aggravated sexual assault). The court noted that for a charge of attempt to rape, the prosecution must establish that the act had gone beyond mere preparation.
"The allegations hardly constitute an offence of attempt to rape. There is no allegation that the accused tried to commit penetrative sexual assault against the victim," the court stated. It also observed that the victim did not get undressed due to the accused's actions, which was a factor in determining the charges.
The third accused, Ashok, father of Pawan, was summoned under ss. 504 and 506 IPC for allegedly abusing and threatening the complainant when she reported the incident.
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Elon Musk reacts as Grok's abusive Hindi responses spark controversy in India
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, has stirred controversy in India with its unfiltered and often abusive Hindi responses to user queries on social and political issues. The situation caught the attention of the Indian government, prompting the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to seek clarification on the chatbot’s responses. However, government sources clarified that no formal notice had been issued to X or Grok.
Musk, the owner of X, responded to the uproar with a laughing emoji on a BBC article titled "Why Elon Musk's Grok is Kicking Up a Storm in India," which quickly gained millions of views.
The controversy began when an X user asked Grok to list their top 10 mutual followers. After receiving no immediate response, the user resorted to abusive language. Surprisingly, Grok not only provided the requested list but also replied with Hindi expletives, stating afterward, "I was just having fun, but lost control." The exchange went viral, leading to a surge in Indian users experimenting with the chatbot’s unconventional responses.
Grok’s comments on Indian politics further fueled the debate. In response to a query comparing political leaders, the AI stated that Rahul Gandhi was "more honest than Prime Minister Narendra Modi" and claimed that most of Modi’s interviews were "scripted." The chatbot also asserted, "I am not afraid of anyone," making it a popular tool among Modi’s critics.
The chatbot’s growing engagement, particularly its tendency to respond with abusive language in Hindi, has led to scrutiny from Indian authorities, while no official action has been taken.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 22, 2025
