Sexual Assault

Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years in prison for rape, sexual assault

A Los Angeles judge on Thursday sentenced Harvey Weinstein to 16 years in prison after a jury convicted him of the 2013 rape and sexual assault of an Italian actor and model. The sentence comes on top of the more than 20 years the 70-year-old Weinstein has left to serve for a similar 2020 conviction in New York, furthering the fall of the onetime movie magnate who became a #MeToo magnet. Weinstein directly appealed to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa B. Lench, saying: I maintain that I'm innocent. I never raped or sexually assaulted Jane Doe 1." The woman who Weinstein was convicted of raping sobbed in the courtroom as he spoke. Moments earlier she had told the judge about the pain she felt after being attacked by Weinstein. Before that night I was a very happy and confident woman. I valued myself and the relationship I had with God, the woman, who was identified in court only as Jane Doe 1, said. I was excited about my future. Everything changed after the defendant brutally

Virginity test on female accused sexist, unconstitutional: Delhi HC-

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ruled that conducting a "virginity test" on a female accused is unconstitutional, sexist and in violation of the right to dignity. The court observed that there is no legal procedure that provides for a "virginity test" and such testing is a form of inhuman treatment. The order was passed by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on a plea moved by Sister Sephy, who sought to declare the conduct of a "virginity test" on her in connection with a criminal case over a nun's death in Kerala in 1992 as unconstitutional. "It is declared that the virginity test conducted on a female detainee, accused under investigation, or in custody, whether judicial or police, is unconstitutional and in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which includes right to dignity," Justice Sharma said. "This court, therefore, holds that this test is sexist and in violation of the human right to dignity even of a female accused if she is subjected to such a test while being in ...

NHRC issues notice to Delhi govt over reports of sexual assault in Tihar

The NHRC has issued notices to the Delhi government and the director general of Prisons over reports that a prisoner was sexually assaulted by fellow inmates in Tihar Jail, officials said on Monday. The National Human Rights Commission has also decided to send its own team for an on-spot inquiry in the case, they said. The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports carried on December 30 that a 22-year-old prisoner was allegedly sexually assaulted by fellow inmates at Tihar Jail, the rights panel said in a statement. Reportedly, the prisoner is under medical treatment, it said. The contents of the media reports, if true, amount to the violation of the victim's right to life and dignity, the NHRC said. According to the notices issued to the chief secretary of Delhi and the director general of Prisons, the commission has sought a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The report should include the present health status of the victim, action taken against the erri

Sri Lankan cricketer Gunathilaka granted bail in sexual assault case

Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka was on Thursday granted bail but banned from using his social media accounts while awaiting trial on charges of alleged sexual assault of a woman during the team's T20 World Cup campaign in Australia. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the now-suspended batter appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre court via video link from Parklea Correctional Centre, where he had been in custody since being refused bail on November 7. The 31-year-old Gunathilaka was arrested in Sydney in the wee hours of November 6 following an investigation into alleged sexual assault of a woman on November 2, even as the team flew out of the country after being eliminated in the Super 12 stage. "Magistrate Janet Wahlquist granted Gunathilaka bail on Thursday in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, where he appeared via an audiovisual link from Parklea jail," the report said. "Police prosecutor Kerry-Ann McKinnon opposed bail on the grounds Gunathilaka is a flight risk a

SLC paying for legal defence of sexual-assault accused Danushka Gunathilaka

Sri Lanka Cricket said that it is paying for Danushka Gunathilaka's legal defence in Australia since the charges of sexual intercourse without consent were laid on him

Three-member committee to probe alleged sexual assault by Gunathilaka

A three-member panel will probe the alleged sexual assault by Sri Lankan batter Danushka Gunathilaka during the T20 World Cup in Australia, the country's cricket board said on Tuesday. The probe panel comprising retired High Court judge Justice Sisira Ratnayake, attorney Niroshana Perera and attorney Asela Rekawa will also investigate various other alleged incidents involving the reigning Asia Cup winners during their stay in Australia, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stated. "Upon submission of the said report by the panel, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket will take stern disciplinary action against the players and or officials if proved guilty of any wrongdoing or negligence when carrying out official duties," SLC said. The panel will seek an immediate explanation from the team manager pertaining to Gunathilaka's conduct and other incidents, it added. There are also reports of "a fight involving another player in a Brisbane casino". The 31-year-old left-hander, who was arres

Lanka Cricket appoints 3-member panel to investigate Gunathilaka episode

Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed a three-member panel to investigate the sexual assault episode involving left-handed batter Danushka Gunathilaka in Sydney

Gunathilaka was moments away from leaving when he was dragged out: Report

Sri Lankan left-hand batter Danushka Gunathilaka, was reportedly moments away from leaving for the airport to fly back home when he was pulled out of the team bus and apprehended by police

Jalandhar man gets 20 years of imprisonment for sexually assaulting a girl

A court here has sentenced a man from Jalandhar to 20 years of imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Aarti Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court under POCSO Act, Ambala on Wednesday awarded the sentence to the youth from Jalandhar for sexually assaulting the girl belonging to a village in Ambala. The judge, while handing down the punishment in the case, said in the order that the act of convict adversely affected the future life of the girl who was in her teenage. "Such a heinous act is destruction of the whole personality of child victim," Singh noted. The Naggal police station had registered a case against the accused Satbir Singh alias Preet on November 16, 2020 based on the complaint of the girl's mother under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The mother of the girl had said in her complaint that Satbir Singh (23) had come to their village on November 14, 2020 and after lur

Non-reporting of sexual assault against minor a 'serious crime': SC

The non-reporting of sexual assault against a minor despite knowledge is a "serious crime" and an attempt to shield the offenders, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. The apex court said prompt and proper reporting of commission of offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act is of utmost importance and the failure to do so would defeat the very purpose and object of the law. The top court set aside the Bombay High Court's judgement of April last year quashing an FIR and the charge sheet regarding a medical practitioner who allegedly did not inform the authority about sexual assault against several minor girls at a hostel despite having knowledge about it. A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and C T Ravikumar observed it is true that the FIR and the charge sheet still remain in respect of other accused in the case. "But then, non-reporting of sexual assault against a minor child despite knowledge is a serious crime and more often than not, it is an attemp

Activision Blizzard's chief compliance officer resigns on assault charges

Gaming company Activision Blizzard's chief compliance officer, Frances Townsend, is stepping down after several sexual assault allegations surfaced at the company

Delhi L-G inaugurates DNA testing facility at Rohini for POCSO cases

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday inaugurated advanced DNA examination facility for sexual assault and POCSO cases at Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Rohini. The facility is equipped with machines that can process 24 samples simultaneously and give an analysis report in 24 hours instead of the earlier 72 hours, an official said. It will also be manned by additional 93 staff members, whose recruitment was sanctioned by the Lt Governor recently. The FSL receives 2,500-3,000 cases related to murder, attempt to murder, sexual assault, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), disaster tragedies and unidentified bodies. The new technology will help it carry out biological and serological examinations and DNA typing in a much faster manner to ensure that trials in courts do not get delayed, the official said. Interacting with officials on the occasion, the LG reiterated his instructions for timely and accurate disposal of cases referred to the FSL. He was

Karnataka seer Shivamurthy Sharanaru arrested in sexual assault case

Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the chief pontiff of Murugha Math booked under the POCSO Act for alleged sexual abuse of high school girls was arrested on Thursday, police sources said. After interrogation since this evening, he has been taken into custody by the police, sources said, adding that due procedures are being followed. The Mysuru city police on Saturday had filed an FIR against the seer under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and certain sections of the Indian Penal Code for the alleged sexual abuse. The FIR was registered against a total of five people, including the warden of the monastery's hostel, based on the complaint by an officer of the District Child Protection Unit. Police questioned the warden earlier in the day. Two girls had approached a non-governmental organisation in Mysuru and narrated the alleged abuse, following which it approached the authorities and the case was registered by the police. The case was subsequently shifted to .

Senior Kerala politician P C George arrested in sexual assault case

George was taken into custody by the Cantonment police from a guest house here where he was being grilled by the Crime Branch in connection with a conspiracy hatched to defame the Kerala CM

Uber recorded 998 sexual assault incidents in US in 2020, says report

Even though the pandemic decimated its ridership, ride-hailing platform Uber has recorded 998 sexual assault incidents, including 141 rapes, in the US in 2020

Sexual assault case lodged against Thiruvananthapuram airport's official

A sexual assault case has been lodged against a senior official of the Adani-run Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

HC allows termination of pregnancy of minor, a victim of sexual assault

The Madras High Court has allowed the abortion of the six-month pregnancy of a 17-year old girl who was sexually assaulted by a 44-year old man

Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai says never made sexual assault claims

Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai said on Sunday that she had never accused anyone of sexual assault and was not going to travel abroad.

Oral sex with minor not 'aggravated sexual assault' under POCSO: HC

The court said the crime falls in the 'penetrative sexual assault' category

IOC interview with China's Peng Shuai raises even more questions

Out of public view for almost three weeks, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has appeared in a video call with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach