Britons accused of paedophilia acquitted by Indian court

New Delhi - An Indian court Thursday dismissed an appeal to stay the acquittal of two Britons and an Indian of paedophilia charges, clearing their way to return home, news reports said. The Bombay High Court Wednesday acquitted Duncan Grant, 64, and Alan Waters, 60, of child molestation charges, saying there was insufficient evidence against them, IANS and PTI news agencies reported. The court also acquitted William D'Souza, the Indian manager of a shelter for street children set up by the two Britons in the western city of Mumbai in 1995. Mumbai police filed charges of molestation and sexual abuse of five street children against the three men in 2001. The Britons were sentenced to six years imprisonment and fined 20,000 pounds (39,800 dollars) each, while D'Souza was given a three-year jail term by a lower court in 2006.... [read full story]