In an important decision, the Bombay High Court at Aurangabad confirmed the guilty verdict of four men for gang rape, assault, and making threats. The court sentenced them to life in prison, stressing how serious their crimes were.
The men, Shaikh Tayyab Shaikh Babulal, Taleb Ali Shaukat Ali, Shaikh Jamil Shaikh Husain Bagwan, and Shaikh Ashfaq Shaikh Husain, were charged under several laws, including one for gang rape. They were first found guilty in 2019, and this decision was an appeal against that verdict.
"All the accused – Shaikh Tayyab Shaikh Babulal, Taleb Ali Shaukat Ali, Shaikh Jamil Shaikh Husain Bagwan, and Shaikh Ashfaq Shaikh Husain are found guilty under the law for gang rape, assault, and making threats."
The crime happened on August 27, 2015, when the victim and her friend Maruti Waghmare were attacked while riding a motorcycle. The attackers beat up Maruti and dragged the victim into a field where they committed the terrible act.
The police investigation included medical checks and a line-up where the victim and Maruti identified the attackers. DNA evidence was crucial in proving the involvement of the men.
"The DNA report confirms the accusations against Shaikh Tayyab Shaikh Babulal, Taleb Ali Shaukat Ali, Shaikh Jamil Shaikh Husain Bagwan, and Shaikh Ashfaq Shaikh Husain."
The defense raised several doubts about the evidence, pointing out inconsistencies in the victim's statements and the lack of injuries. They argued that the victim's story was not trustworthy.
"The defense lawyer Mr. Rajendra Deshmukh argued that the victim's and her boyfriend Maruti's stories seem doubtful."
The court, led by Judges Nitin B. Suryawanshi and Sandipkumar C. More, rejected the appeals, stating that the prosecution had proven the guilt of the men beyond a reasonable doubt. The court highlighted the trustworthiness of the victim's story and the supporting evidence.
"The victim's story is convincing, and it is clear that Shaikh Tayyab Shaikh Babulal, Taleb Ali Shaukat Ali, Shaikh Jamil Shaikh Husain Bagwan, and Shaikh Ashfaq Shaikh Husain committed gang rape on the victim."
The court's decision confirms the guilty verdict and life sentences for the four men, serving as a strong message about the serious consequences of such crimes.
