A trial Court imposed a fine of 3000 INR on Shivram Hambare, an employee of the Government Security Press in Nashik for flashing his penis before his female neighbour after an argument. Justice RY Ganoo of the Bombay High Court upheld the fine.

He had been convicted of an offence under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code which deals with acts or gestures intended to insult a woman’s modesty. It says that whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. The person who says or makes words, sounds or gestures must intend that the woman hear them. If he displays an object, he must intend that the woman see it. In other words, an inadvertent gesture or speech is not an offence under this section.