Life imprisonment to seven years for kidnapping and gang rape of an underage girl

Special correspondent:

ADDITIONAL: Judge RP Pande on Wednesday imposed life sentences on seven men — Atul alias Baba Naresh Janbandhu, Firoz Ahmed Jamil Ahmed, Swapnil Devanand Jawade, Mayur Ramesh Barsagde, Krishna Haridas Dongre, Jitu alias Channi Ramesh Manglani and Sachin Govindrao Bawne — for abducting and gang-raping a minor girl. According to the prosecution, the 16-year-old inmate of the Government Observation Home for Girls, Katol Road, Sadar, had escaped with three of her friends on April 20, 2017 at around 7 am. During the night, they slept near the shutter of a shop. The next day, the inmate’s three friends returned to the Observation Home, but she remained at the Sitabuldi flyover.

Atul alias Baba Naresh Janbandhu (22), resident of Krishi Nagar, Jaripatka, Firoz Ahmed Jamil Ahmed (40), resident of Naalsahab Chowk, Swapnil Devanand Jawade (27), resident of Rahul Nagar, Somalwada, Mayur Ramesh Barsagde (26), resident of Bodhada, Chimur, Chandrapur District, Krishna Haridas Dongre (24), resident of Gautam Nagar, Sindhi Colony, Jitu alias Channi Ramesh Manglani (22), resident of Plot No 321, Vyankatesh Nagar, Khamla, Sachin Govindrao Bawne (28), resident of Kumbhartoli, Pralay Chandu Meshram (26), Somil Ashok Narkhedkar (28), both residents of Sugat Nagar, Suresh Damodhar Barsagde (60), resident of MHADA Colony, Nari and Manohar Akdu Sakhare (70), a resident of Plot No. 80, Samata Nagar, lured her with food and shelter. The 16-year-old runaway girl was spotted by autorickshaw driver Krishna Dongre near Mor Bhavan.

He offered her some snacks, took her to Variety Square and handed her over to Firoz, a roadside shoe seller. Firoz and other accused then took her to a flat in Jaripatka area and raped her on April 21 and 22, 2017. Following a complaint by the gang rape survivors, the Sitabuldi police had filed charges against the accused under Sections 363, 366, 376 and 120 (b) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) read with Sections 6 and 7 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (PoCSO) Act.

On April 23, the police arrested all the accused. Police Sub-Inspector Deepali Raut investigated the case and framed charges against the accused. As the charges against Atul alias Baba Naresh Janbandhu, Firoz Ahmed Jamil Ahmed, Swapnil Devanand Jawade, Mayur Ramesh Barsagde, Krishna Haridas Dongre, Jitu alias Channi Ramesh Manglani and Sachin Govindrao Bawne were proved, the court sentenced them to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each for violating Section 376(d) of the IPC. For violating Section 363 of the IPC, the court sentenced them to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 each. Similarly, for violating Section 506 of the IPC, the court sentenced them to one year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3,000 each. All the sentences will run concurrently. The court acquitted the accused Pralay Meshram, Somil Narkhedkar, Suresh Barsagde and Manohar Sakhare on the grounds that the charges against them were not proven. The state was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Madhuri Motghare.