HC confirms five year RI on two in gangrape case

Accordingly, the two accused, Sanjay Pansare and Bhau Jagtap, will be undergoing a five year rigorous imprisonment and will also be paying a fine of Rs 1,000.

According to the state public prosecutor, the incident occurred at Baramati Vankar Vasti, Pimpalital, in the early hours of June 22, 1989 between 12 midnight to 3 am. The victim, Shobha Kukre, who had gone meet her uncle in Indore returned on 21st night and got off at the Daund railway station. Since there were no buses to take her to her village, she decided to stay over at a relative’s place. At the Daund bus stop, she was accosted by the accused. They then took her to a nearby gymnasium and gangraped her, the victim recalled.

The accused, however, defended themselves saying that there were no eyewitnesses to the incident and complained that they were being framed in the case since they were activists of the Dalit Panther Party and the local Shiv Sena activists wanted to get even with them. However, the victim recognised the three men – Raju Jadhav, Sanjay Pansare and Bhau Jagtap – during the identity parade. Evidence like her broken bangles and torn blouse was also found at the scene of crime. A medical examination too confirmed that she had been gangraped.

Judge C D Konale of the District and Sessions Court, Baramati in 1992 sentenced the three to five years RI.