Pune: Bank Employee Granted Bail in Stalking and Molestation Case of Minor Girl

Pune : Special District Judge K.P. Kshirsagar has granted bail to Pritamkumar Surendra Gupta (26), a resident of Vishrantwadi, Dighi Road, Pune, who stands accused of stalking and molesting a 17-year-old minor girl. Gupta, a reputed bank employee, was released on a bond of Rs 50,000 after spending nearly one and a half months in judicial custody at Yerawada Jail.

The incident came to light on June 21, 2024, when the victim girl, accompanied by her younger sister, was returning home from school. According to the victim’s account, Gupta began following them, arousing her suspicion. She managed to take a photo of his bike’s number plate using her mobile phone. Despite this unsettling encounter, the situation escalated on June 24, 2024.

On that day, while again taking her younger sister home from school, the victim noticed Gupta stalking them once more. Gupta approached and blocked their path, offering to give them a ride to school. The girl refused, but Gupta persisted, repeating his offer and expressing his interest in her. Despite her repeated refusals and visible fear, Gupta continued to follow and harass her. The victim took another photo of his bike, prompting Gupta to flee.

Upon returning home, the terrified girl recounted the incidents to her mother, who subsequently reported the matter to the Nigdi police, providing them with the bike’s number plate. The police traced the vehicle to Gupta using the RTO office records and arrested him on June 25, 2024.

In court, Advocate Harshvardhan Milind Pawar, along with Advocates Rutuja Naik and Sarang Bahirat, represented Gupta. Pawar argued that Gupta’s arrest was based solely on the bike’s registration number and suspicion. He highlighted that Gupta is a reputable employee at a bank and criticised the police for not reviewing available CCTV footage from the incident locations. Pawar contended that the investigation had not definitively proven that Gupta was the individual driving the bike during the incidents.

“The police have not verified the CCTV footage from the scene, which could exonerate my client,” argued Advocate Harshvardhan Pawar. After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge, K.P. Kshirsagar, granted Gupta bail on a bond of Rs 50,000.