Ex-CSIO scientist sentenced to ‘stand till rising of court’

Chandigarh : The court of District and Sessions Judge S K Aggarwal on Wednesday released a former scientist of the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Piyush Kumar Avasthi, who was convicted for attempting to molest a woman colleague, on probation. However, the accused was sentenced to “stand till the rising of the court” and made to pay a fine of Rs 2 lakh to the complainant, who is also the victim.

The case dates back to April 3, 2003 when the victim (then 43), a colleague of the accused (then 50), had lodged a complaint against Avasthi, at the Industrial Area police station.

An FIR was registered on October 27, 2003.

In the complaint it had been mentioned that the accused followed her many times from the work place to her home, passed vulgar remarks, made obscene gestures, used abusive language and made several telephone calls to her.

In 2009, the court of judicial magistrate (first class) Manisha Jain handed a sentence of two year’s rigorous imprisonment to the former CSIO employee and a fine of Rs 3,000 was imposed. However, Avasthi had challenged the orders. The case of the challenged petition was concluded on Wednesday and the accused was released on probation.

However, he was made to stand till the rising of the court and pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the victim.