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20-Year Sentence for Trafficking and Rape in Nagpur
4 Oct
Summary
- Six men received sentences ranging from seven to 20 years for trafficking.
- The victim was lured with a job promise and subjected to repeated assaults.
- The court convicted six of the twelve accused in the 2022 case.
In a significant development on October 3, a special court in Nagpur delivered a harsh verdict in a harrowing 2022 trafficking and repeated sexual assault case. Six men have been sentenced for their roles in the ordeal of a 21-year-old woman. Four accused, Ashok Sharma (42), Sanjay Parikh (36), Vijay Soni (35), and Mukesh Kumar Jakhar (27), received 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentences.
Additionally, Annukhan alias Muskan Khan (22) and Geeta Saini (38) were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in trafficking the victim. The court also imposed fines, with default imprisonment clauses for non-payment. The case, registered with Pachpaoli police station, saw the accused convicted based on compelling witness testimony and evidence presented by the prosecution.
According to the prosecution's account, the victim was deceived between September 2021 and January 2022, lured to Jaipur with a false promise of employment. She was allegedly held captive in a lodge, threatened, and handed over to other conspirators. The victim was then forcibly married and subjected to repeated sexual assaults and torture.
The investigation led to the arrest of several accused between January 5 and February 22, 2022. However, five individuals, including Karan Sukhpal Gangaboir alias Salman Khan and Bhagwati Devi Ashok Sharma, failed to appear for court proceedings. A charge sheet has been filed against them, with further actions pending their apprehension. Shireen Khan Aziz Khan (19) was acquitted of all charges.
The prosecution successfully presented its case through the examination of 10 witnesses. The former investigating officer, PM Dhakulkar, filed the charge sheet following a thorough investigation, with Constable Apeksha Bodele providing assistance during the court proceedings.
