AIIMS Molestation: Police Unsure about Sodomy Law

Legal News India: Guru Dutt Sharma, an East Delhi businessman, was finally able to lodge his complaint against a senior doctor of AIIMS one day after his son, Gaurav was sodimized by the doctor. The reason for the delay was that the policemen had little idea about sodomy law.

Sharma had to wait at the Haus Khas police station for 7-8 hours before he could file an FIR because the officials were irresolute about the criminal act under which they should file the case. The case has been filed under Sections 377 for unnatural sex (sodomy) and 506 for criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code and 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Sharma charged the AIIMS doctor for sexually abusing his 8-year-old son, Gaurav, who was admitted in the hospital for brain tumor. He claimed that Gaurav was shifted to the Internal Care Unit (ICU) after his operation. The doctor took him to his room from the ICU and raped him there.

What is Sodomy?

Sodomy implies oral or anal copulation with any body (members of the opposite or same sex), including animals, with an indirect reference to the story of Sodom in Bible. In this case, sodomy refers to sexual activity with a minor.

Section 377 of the IPC was introduced in India by the British to criminalize sexual activity that was "against the order of nature."