The Ahmednagar Police have filed a 350-page chargesheet against the accused in the Kopardi rape-and-murder case, which triggered strong agitation from the Maratha community demanding strict action against the accused.
It was earlier reported that if the chargesheet has not been filed within the period of 90 days from the date of crime, the accused have better chances to get bail. The 90 days period ends of October 11.
Inspector at the Ahmednagar crime branch, Shashiraj Patole said, “We have recorded the statements of 70 people in the case. The charges were filed against Jitendra alias Pappu Shinde, Santosh Bhaval and Nitin Bhailune. The matter will come up in court and the accused will be stringently punished.”
“We want the court to treat this as the rarest of the rare case by looking at the heinous crime of the culprit. That will help award capital punishment to the accused. All political parties, including the BJP, have demanded capital punishment to the accused,” a senior police officer said.
According to the reports, the three have been charged under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 376 (rape).
Ujjawal Nikam, the Special Public Prosecutor, who is fighting for the 15-year-old Maratha girl raped and then murdered on July 13, said that the case will be tried at special fast-track court in Ahmednagar. Supriya Sule, NCP MP, had threatened of a stir if the charge sheet was not filed.
Patole said, “In two months, charges will be framed and punishment will be given. We expect the judgment in three months. We do not want to leave any gap in the case. Hence the delay in filing the charge sheet.”
The President of Maratha Seva Sangh, Purushottam Khedekar said, “This is for the first time in history that the Marathas stood united and decided to fight. It has also put forth other demands such as an amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reservation for Marathas, and the implementation of the Dr Swaminathan report for fair price to the farmers' produce. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should take serious note of the issue.”
By Prajakt K.
