Mumbai, Apr 9 (PTI) A special court here on Thursday denied bail to a local cricket coach, accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl trainee on multiple occasions, citing gravity of the offence.
Special judge Surekha Sinha, hearing cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, emphasized that there was a possibility of the accused indulging in a similar crime with minor girls and also absconding if he is released.
As per the prosecution, the girl alleged that the accused sexually assaulted her when she was attending cricket coaching.
The prosecution said the victim suffered severe physical pain due to the repeated acts. Medical evidence and a promptly-filed FIR were cited as corroborative proof of the assault.
Special public prosecutor S S Shamkuwar, opposed the bail arguing that the accused allegedly destroyed CCTV cameras at the scene of the incident to disappear prosecution evidence.
The prosecution pointed to a prior 2023 complaint filed by another 16-year-old victim against her cricket coach, 38, alleging similar acts of inappropriate touching and outraging modesty.
It expressed concerns that if released, Pawar might abscond or repeat the crimes against other minor girls.
Defence advocate Dilip Gavit argued that his client was innocent and accused the victim of lodging a false complaint.
The defence maintained that the accused has been in custody for eight months since his arrest on August 5, 2025.
He is the sole breadwinner for his family, including elderly parents, who are now facing starvation, the defence argued.
The complaint was allegedly a retaliatory move following a complaint the coach himself had filed against another individual in 2023, it said.
After hearing both sides, the judge noted that the nature of offence was serious.
The court further acknowledged the allegation that the accused destroyed CCTV camera on the incident spot to cause disappearance of the prosecution evidence.
“If, in this situation, the accused is released on bail there are chances of repetition of crime with minor girls and also absconding of the accused,” the court said, adding that in this situation, it is not just and proper to release him on bail. PTI AVI NP
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