Cops find more evidence in Shakti Mills tele operator gang-rape case

In a bid to bolster their case in the court, the city crime branch has made more seizures in the second Shakti Mills gang rape case, in which a 19-year-old telephone operator from Bhandup was allegedly raped by five men, including a minor. The fifth accused in the case, 25-year old Mohammad Ashfaq Dawood Sheikh, was arrested by the crime branch from Girgaum Chowpatty area on Saturday.

“We have seized a carpet allegedly used while committing the offence, one used condom, the victim’s innerwear, her water bottle, shirt of the arrested accused, accused persons slippers.

Also, while the accused were dragging the victim, her bracelet containing blue and white gems had broken. We have seized nine such gems from the crime scene,” said a crime branch officer, requesting anonymity.

Police sources claim that they were tracking Ashfaq’s movements through his mobile phone tower locations. “We had received specific information that Ashfaq would be arriving near Chowpatty area to take some money from one of his known persons as he was short of money. The moment he arrived at the said place, he was arrested,” said the officer.

Meanwhile, the crime branch said that they would first complete the identification parade of Ashfaq while he is in judicial custody and would then seek police custody for interrogation.

The court on Sunday sent Ashfaq to judicial custody till September 19.

“Test identification parade of the minor and other accused Salim Ansari, Vijay Jadhav and Kasim Sheikh alias Bengali is already over and the victim and her husband identified them on Saturday,” said joint commissioner of police (crime), Himanshu Roy.