Keenan-Reuben murder: No relief for accused

No furlough leave can be granted to the killer of Keenan Santos and his friend Reuben Fernandez, who were killed in 2011 for confronting four men who molested their friend, the Bombay High Court recently ruled, while upholding the rejection order passed by prison authorities. The court felt the killer is a possible threat to the witnesses who deposed against him in the case.

Convict Jitendra Rana had, in May 2016, moved an application for furlough. By an order passed on December 12, 2016, prison authorities rejected his application, which he then appealed against. The appeal was dismissed by an order dated February 16, which he again challenged before the Bombay High Court.

Advocate Akash Kavade, appearing for Rana, argued that the grounds of rejection of furlough were not proper and the action of prison authorities was illegal. However, Additional Public Prosecutor, Hitendra Dedhia opposed the plea saying there was danger to the life of the complainant and witnesses, and that the police report was adverse. Dedhia also said the petitioner had been sentenced to life imprisonment, and that he may not return if granted furlough.

The court went through the details of the case and said, "Facts relating to the case show that the petitioner has a tendency to take revenge, which can be seen from the fact that when the deceased tried to question him regarding teasing of the deceased's friend, he, along with other accused, came back with weapons and assaulted them, leading to their deaths. Thus, we find much merit in the order of rejection which shows that there will be danger to the life of the complainant and witnesses."