Bombay HC Refuses To Reduce Life Sentence Of Pune Gangrape Convicts, Raps Lower Court

HC Upholds Life Sentence: The Bombay High Court earlier today, refused to reduce the life sentences of three Pune gangrape convicts, who were convicted in the Hinjewadi rape case back in 2010. The high court noted that violent crimes against women are steeply rising and that all courts should be adopting the policy to provide deterrent punishment which is proportionate to the magnitude of the crime.

The court also disapproved the “graphic and detailed” suggestions that the defence made to the victim during the trial in the court. A bench consisting of Justice SS Jadhav and SV Kotwal observed that the victim was put to a line of questions that included suggestions being made with respect to the details of the rape.

According to the"> report, the court further observed that the suggestions given in the case can hardly be called “proper cross-examination” and that under the pretext of giving suggestions, graphic details of the ordeal were put to the witness.

The bench expressed its disappointment at the passive approach of the judge while allowing the graphic questions, that the survivor was sobbing during the questioning, and noted that the trial judge should have stopped the questioning. The court also expressed its displeasure at the Special Public Prosecutor’s inaction for not having objected to the suggestions.

The case happened in April 2010, when a woman was abducted by the three convicts, Ranjeet Gade, Ganesh Kamble and Subhash Bhosale. The three then raped her through the night in a vehicle.

The woman was on her way to attend a seminar and was at the bus stop when a car stopped by and the driver offered to drop her. As she was getting late, she agreed and stepped inside, where another man was already sitting.

After some time, another man entered the car and the woman was then slapped and gagged. The men then drove to a secluded place and gangraped her. She was then left near her house, later discovered by her relatives.

Suggested Reading : 

Court Reduces Jail Term For ‘Illiterate’ Man Convicted Of Sexual Assault

Delhi High Court Issues Notice To CBI Regarding Corruption Case Against Maneka Gandhi

Supreme Court Rejects Allowing Women In NDA Exams In 2022, Here’s Why