Mumbai: In a setback to the police, a
sessions court on Monday acquitted three accused, including a
woman, in the case of immoral trafficking, wrongful
confinement and sexual assault of a minor girl.
Police inspector Arun Borude, another accused in the
case, was found dead on railway tracks in native Ahmednagar
district in Deceber 2010. Borude had been absconding ever
since the registration of FIR against him in November that
year.
Three others - Mohanchand Shyam, Chandrabhan Gupta and
Shantabai Gaikwad - were charged under various sections of IPC
for rape, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation and
under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA).
According to police, the 15-year-old victim was raped by
four to five men, including Borude, on several occasions
between February and March 2010 in a flat in the building
`Emerald Court` in suburban Powai. Borude used to reside in
the adjacent flat along with his family.
The incident came to light in November 2010, after the
victim gave birth to a baby girl. The victim`s mother lodged a
complaint with the police, who, later learnt that Gaikwad,
with whom, the victim went for domestic chores, had in
connivance with Mohanchand, a real estate agent, confined the
girl in the flat and sent customers there.
Defence lawyer Naveen Chomal argued in the court that the
alleged victim was not a minor and was above the age of 18
years and if there was any sexual intercourse between the
accused and the victim, it was consensual.
Additional sessions judge S Malpani-Pawar acquitted the
trio due to lack of evidence and prosecution`s failure to
prove its case.
PTI
