Charge sheet filed against Vinod Ghosalkar

Two months after Shiv Sena corporator Sheetal Mhatre had registered an FIR against Sena's Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Vinod Ghoshalkar for allegedly abusing her on various occasions, the Mumbai police last week filed a 109-page charge sheet in the case before the Borivli Metropolitan Magistrate court. The police have attached statements of as many as 20 witnesses in the case.

The police have slapped Ghosalkar with as many as five charges which includes outraging the modesty of a woman, defaming a woman, criminal intimidation and hurling statements which promotes enmity.

When dna spoke to advocate Bharat More, the advocate appearing on behalf of Mhatre, More claimed that, "At the time of registering the offence the police had slapped Ghosalkar only with three Sections, however in the charge sheet the police slapped Ghoshalkar with two new sections of defamation and hurling statements which promotes enmity. However, at this point we cannot comment too much about the role of the accused since the matter is sub-judice."

According to the charge sheet, Ghosalkar had made some sexist remarks before Mhatre and had done it several times. The matter was initially investigated by the Dahisar police. However, the investigation was transferred to the crime branch later. It was then that Ghosalkar had approached the sessions court to seek an anticipatory bail and got the reprieve. The matter is now adjourned to March 28.

When dna spoke to Mhatre, she said, "Now that the police have slapped two more charges against Ghosalkar, we hope that the justice will be delivered in the case. I have strong faith in the judiciary."