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Maharashtra

Hard to believe widow raped many times at knifepoint in crowded area: Bombay HC

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 The Bombay High Court’s Aurangabad Bench has quashed a FIR and charge sheet against a rape accused, stating it is “difficult to believe that a widow with 2 children in a populated residential locality was forcefully raped several times”.

A division bench of Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice Abhay Waghwase gave relief to the accused, Siddhodhan N. Kurule, 33, of Parbhani, in the complaint lodged against him by the woman, who lost her husband in March 2017.

The victim claimed that on July 13, 2017, when she was at home with her kids, the accused entered her house on the pretext of drinking water, brandished a knife and threatened to kill her and the kids, and then, had forcible sex with her.

She said that Kurule would come drunk, demand money from her, and upon her refusal, took away her ornaments for mortgage, raped her on multiple occasions, and also assaulted her.

After nearly six months, she claimed to be fed up with this, complained to her parents and later lodged the case at the Nava Mondha Police Station.

Kurule’s lawyer, senior advocate Rajendra S. Deshmukh submitted that the FIR was belated, false and full of baseless allegation, the complainant was a widow with 2 kids living in a thickly populated locality and the duo had known each other since long.

He said that the jeweller’s statements showed that the ornaments were mortgaged at her instance, and her parents lived separately and were ignorant of the alleged incidents as she never visited them and they did not come to see her.

Additional Public Prosecutor M.M. Nerlikar argued that the victim was raped multiple times and knifepoint and the accused had forcibly taken away her jewellery.

The victim’s lawyer P. N. Kalani argued on similar lines and pointed out that the investigation was completed, the charge sheet was filed and hence, Kurule must face trial.

However, the bench noted that the FIR was filed after six months by the widow, and in her supplementary statement, she had stated how Kurule used to regularly visit her home and even help her out at times, she had allowed him to operate her ATM card, and there was room to “presume that there was a long-standing association” between them.

“We are of the considered opinion that apart from inordinate delay lodging FIR, the allegation of rape levelled against the applicant (Kurule) does not inspire confidence. In fact there was long-standing acquaintance between (them). It is difficult to accept that a widow with two children residing in a thickly-populated residential locality could be forcibly raped not once but on several occasions,” it said.

Quashing the FIR, the judges said that “whatever sexual encounters took place between (them) apparently seemed to be consensual one, therefore making (Kurule) face trial with such allegations would render him not only hardship but great injustice”.

Maharashtra

Drugs worth Rs 50 crore destroyed in Mumbai

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Mumbai: In line with the 100-day program launched by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Anti-Narcotics Cell, ANC of Mumbai Police seized 530 kg 4433 bottles of cocaine worth a total of Rs 50 crore in 130 court cases registered in Mumbai. The operation was completed at Maharashtra Government approved Waste Management Private Limited Company, Taluja Panwal Raigad. The action was taken on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Pansalkar, Special Commissioner Devin Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police Satyanarayan Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner of Police Laxmi Gautam. Satyanarayan Chaudhary is also the chairman of the committee and the operation was carried out by ANC DCP Shyam Ghaghe.

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Maharashtra

Police action against drunk drivers, 7 cases registered

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Mumbai: Mumbai Traffic Police has intensified its action against drunk drivers and has also taken action against those violating traffic rules. Mumbai Traffic Police has registered a case under Section 125 against drunk driving. On April 8, 7 cases were registered under Section 125 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 2023 against drunk driving and their licenses have also been canceled.

In this case, the traffic police has registered a case of drunk driving against Sagar Prabhakar, 27, Thana, Dilip Subhash Yadav, 28, Mazgaon, Rakesh Shivaji Rathore, 22, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, Rahim Sheikh, 30, Belapur, Navi Mumbai, Surjeet Singh, 26, Sakinaka, Prakash Yashwant, 39, Kajopara, Borivali, Ajay Kumar Ram Shankar Singh, 40, Jogeshwari. The traffic police has tried to curb this by intensifying action against drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol and endanger the lives of others. The traffic police said that the process of action against those violating traffic rules has been expedited and action is being taken accordingly.

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Maharashtra

Order to close non-aided schools in Mumbai and Thane… Future of lakhs of children in danger, Abu Asim Azmi demands the government to withdraw the order

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After declaring private non-aided schools in Mumbai and Thane illegal and issuing orders to close them, the supply of electricity and water to the schools should be stopped immediately and cases should be registered and the process of closing these schools should be postponed, this demand was made by Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi today during a meeting with Education Minister Dadbhasha here along with a delegation of teachers and school administration.

Abu Asim Azmi said that there are many schools in Thane and Govandi which are providing English medium education to poor children at a low and reasonable fee of Rs 400 to 500, but now their electricity and water connections are being cut to close these schools. Police is being sent to these schools. Due to the closure of these schools, thousands of children will be deprived of education. First, arrangements should be made for the education of these children and then a decision should be taken in this regard. Abu Asim Azmi handed over a memorandum to the Education Minister and told that 81 corporation schools in Thane district have been declared illegal and notice has been given to close them. Where will the lakhs of poor children here go? He told that the conditions of 5000 square feet of land and FD of Rs 1.5 lakh along with a lease agreement of 30 years should be fulfilled. Fees of Rs 20 to 25 lakh for private schools should also be abolished. He said that similarly, in Govind Shivaji Nagar, many private schools providing education to children at low fees are also being declared illegal and action is being taken. If these schools are closed, teachers will become unemployed and the future of children will also become dark. He said that first of all arrangements should be made for the education of these children and then some steps should be taken to provide education to everyone. Education Minister Dadabhai has assured necessary action on Abu Asim Azmi’s demand and said that a decision will be taken after considering the matter.

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