Indian national jailed, caned in Singapore for molesting a woman at mall
Singapore: An Indian national and Singapore permanent resident, Ankit Sharma, 46, has been sentenced to four years in prison and six strokes of the cane for molesting a woman inside a nursing room at Changi City Point mall.
Sharma was convicted of aggravated outrage of modesty for the March 1, 2023 incident. According to a PTI report, the incident involved a 31-year-old technology specialist recruiter. Court records showed the two had met earlier that evening for the first time after a colleague introduced them. During drinks at a bar, Sharma allegedly steered the conversation into sexual territory. He asked intrusive personal questions, as told by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim in the court.
When the woman returned from the washroom, Sharma dragged her into a nearby nursing room, kissed her forcibly, restrained her, and continued making advances despite her resistance. Prosecutors described the act as “intense and prolonged” and said the level of sexual exploitation was “extremely high.”
Sharma denied wrongdoing, claiming the woman had consented and had suggested entering the nursing room. His defence argued she later fabricated the allegations after he made an unkind remark. The court rejected this version and found him guilty.
The charge carried a penalty of two to ten years in jail and caning. While his lawyer sought a reduced sentence of three to three-and-a-half years with fewer strokes, the court accepted the prosecution’s recommendation of at least four years and six strokes.
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JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar's son Nishant to start maiden political yatra on Sunday
Patna (PTI): JD(U) leader Nishant Kumar, whose belated political entry has shone a ray of hope on the party rattled by his father Nitish Kumar's sudden relinquishment of power, is set to launch his first public outreach programme in Bihar on Sunday.
The 45-year-old, who joined the party only last month, is scheduled to kick off his "Sadbhav Yatra" (goodwill tour) from Valmiki Nagar in West Champaran district.
The place had been chosen multiple times by his father as the starting point for numerous "yatras" during a nearly two-decade-long tenure as the chief minister of Bihar.
The party, which is still recovering from the shock of the 75-year-old leader's sudden decision to enter the Rajya Sabha, triggering fears of a diminution in political clout, has coined a catchy slogan to announce the arrival of the heir apparent.
"Jai Nishant, tay Nishant" (victory for Nishant, his rise is inevitable) is a catchphrase that can now be seen splashed on the JD(U)'s posters as well as social media handles.
On the eve of the launch of "Sadbhav Yatra", JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar told a press conference in West Champaran's headquarters of Bettiah, that "Nishant belongs to the land where Emperor Asoka was born.
Like his father, he is starting a Yatra from the land of Sage Valmiki".
"Both Valmiki and Asoka epitomised renunciation. Our supreme leader Nitish Kumar showed the same spirit of renunciation when he decided to give up the seat of power to live by his convictions," said Neeraj Kumar.
He added that "the same dispassion for power has been demonstrated by Nishant. He could have secured a berth in the new Cabinet or the state legislature any time. But he chose to shun shortcuts and earn his spurs through the tried and tested method of mass contact".
After the JD(U) supremo stepped down as chief minister, a new government headed by BJP leader Samrat Choudhary has been formed in Bihar.
"Nitish Kumar had always followed the policy of zero tolerance for crime, corruption and communalism. The new government, too, has adopted the same as its motto. In Nishant, we have a leader who will carry forward the legacy," said Neeraj Kumar.
