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