Kolkata: The Alipore court has asked Farman Ansari, son of former Trinamool councillor Rehmat Ansari, to appear before a court in Mumbai by July 28 and seek legal relief after he was arrested by a Mumbai police team under Pocso Act for alleged “repeated acts of inappropriate sexual touching” of a minor girl, a distant relative.The girl’s family accused Farman of the crime between May last year and March this year during family gatherings, including a wedding. The alleged offence came to light when the girl, after silently undergoing the trauma for nearly a year, finally confided in her mother. The family lodged a complaint at the Oshiwara Police Station in Mumbai on July 6, following which cops reached Kolkata and apprehended Farman.When produced in court, the judge denied transit remand but asked Farman, a Metiabruz resident, to report to a Mumbai court on or before July 28 and seek appropriate bail.According to the FIR, police have registered the case under Section 74 of BNS, 2023, along with sections 8, 10 and 12 of Pocso Act, 2012. The survivor’s father said that being a distant relative, the accused had frequent access to the family’s residence. In the complaint, the father said, . “One of the incidents took place at our residence in Lokhandwala, Andheri West, Mumbai, while similar acts were repeated during a family gathering and wedding-related functions in Kolkata.”The family has appealed for a fair, impartial and time-bound investigation and urged investigating authorities to ensure strict compliance with all legal procedures, avoid technical lapses and safeguard the rights and well-being of the minor survivor.Ansari did not answer calls from TOI. A family member said he did hear about the development but declined to comment further.
