Mumbai, March 25 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Assembly has unanimously approved a Bill introduced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis aimed at modifying the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This amendment effectively incorporates strict provisions from the Shakti Act into the national criminal code and introduces two crucial provisions.

The newly added provisions prohibit the disclosure of acid attack victims' identities and impose penalties for harassment via phone, social media, and other digital platforms, including the unauthorized sharing of a woman’s photographs or videos.

According to CM Fadnavis, the majority of the Shakti Act's provisions are included in the BNS, leading to the proposal of these two state amendments based on a report from the Maharashtra Director General of Police.

The amendment specifically bans the revealing of names, addresses, or any identifiable details of acid attack survivors, thereby safeguarding them from societal stigma and potential backlash during legal proceedings.

The second provision addresses harassment of women on communication platforms, which will now be met with severe punitive measures equivalent to those for rape and molestation, as stated by the Chief Minister.

This amendment was necessitated due to delays in the original Shakti Bill (2020) receiving Presidential approval, as it was linked to the now-repealed IPC and CrPC.

By directly modifying the BNS, the Maharashtra government has created a modern legal framework that meets constitutional standards while preserving the high level of victim protection that was initially intended.

The Shakti Act, formally known as the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, marks a significant evolution in the state's approach to crimes against women and children. Drafted in 2020 and revised in 2026 to correspond with the new BNS, it emphasizes severe deterrents, swift investigations, and digital safety.

The Shakti Act introduced much stricter penalties for severe offenses, including the potential for the death penalty for rape and gang rape in cases with substantial evidence.

Additionally, it mandates a mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment for sexual assault against children under 16 under certain circumstances.

The Shakti Act also seeks to eliminate the “justice delayed” issue by enforcing strict timelines for investigations, which must be completed within 15 to 30 working days following an FIR.

Trials are required to conclude within 30 working days of the chargesheet submission, utilizing day-to-day hearings, and the period for appeals has been significantly reduced to 45 days (down from six months).

CM Fadnavis reiterated that while most of these provisions were part of the BNS, the non-disclosure of acid attack victims and digital harassment provisions were new additions, prompting the Bill's introduction.

In the meantime, Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Bhaskar Jadhav and NCP (SP) legislator Jitendra Awhad urged the government to consider new laws or provisions aimed at protecting men from harassment. CM Fadnavis assured them that the government would certainly consider their suggestions.