Mumbai: Man With 'Peter Pan Syndrome' Gets Bail In Minor Sexual Assault Case

A man with 'Peter Pan Syndrome' was granted bail by a Mumbai court in the case of a minor's sexual assault, reports said Tuesday. The 23-year-old reportedly exhibits behaviours not mature for his age. He was accused of kidnapping, assaulting and "marrying" a 14-year-old girl.

Special Judge SC Jadhav granted the man bail in the Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) case on a bond of Rs 25000 on June 21, as per a PTI report.

The accused had been arrested in April following a complaint by the girl's family.

What is Peter Pan Syndrome? 

The 'Peter Pan Syndrome' is named after a fictional character from Scottish novelist JM Barrie's works. Peter Pan is famous as the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, known for his free-spirited mischiefs. The syndrome that takes after his name first gained prominence in 1983 with Dr Dan Kiley's book The Peter Pan Syndrome: Men Who Have Never Grown Up.

Though understood as a psychology term to denote men who are socially immature and avoid ">adult responsibilities, 'Peter Pan Syndrome' is not recognised by the World Health Organisation as a mental disorder.

Mumbai Man Gets Bail: About The Case

The advocate for the accused male argued that he was known to the minor girl and that she was not kidnapped, but went "voluntarily" with him to live together. The duo allegedly had a "love relationship" the girl's family knew about but didn't approve of owing to the man's mental state.

"The family members of the victim were aware of their relationship. The applicant and the victim got married and lived together as husband and wife... It is further submitted that the applicant is suffering from Peter Pan syndrome," the court observed in the case.

The bail order further noted the accused had no criminal history and the minor girl had "sufficient knowledge and capacity to know the full import of and has only thereafter voluntarily joined the applicant."

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