Bombay HC upholds rapist cop’s 10-year term

The Bombay high court has upheld the 10-year imprisonment to a police Patil of Mahad in Raigad district for raping a physically challenged minor.

Niranjan Jadhav was convicted on the basis of the testimony by the victim through her school teacher, who narrated the incident in the court by initiating a dialogue with the victim using sign languages.

Single judge bench of Justice RY Ganoo while believing the testimony of the victim given through her teacher said “In my view, the learned trial Judge adopted proper procedure for recording evidence of the person who was deaf and dumb. The appellant has conducted cross-examination of said girl through Poornima Khade (special school teacher). It is seen that no prejudice is caused to the appellant (accused) on that count.”

As per the police case, Jadhav was the police patil appointed under the Maharashtra Villagers Police Act. On December 27, 2005, the girl went to the Jadhav’s house where he raped her. The victim narrated the incident to her brother Sachin and to her mother Pushpa. The accused was arrested.

The prosecution examined nine witnesses and the sessions court held him guilty. Jadhav’s appeal through his advocate argued that there has been a two-day delay in filing of the First Information Report. 

It was also argued that the victim is speech and hearing impaired and partially mentally retarded. The girl had narrated the incident to the prosecution witnesses through sign language. It would have been possible that the witnesses might not have understood her language and a false FIR filed against the accused, argued the defence lawyer.

The court dismissed the appeal filed by the convict.