Kalyan-Dombivali cops file 3 chargesheets in 48 hours in crimes against women

Police in Kalyan-Dombivali region of Thane district of Maharashtra have set a benchmark for investigation into crimes against women by filing chargesheets in three cases in a span of 48 hours, a senior official said on Saturday, reported the PTI.

The cases were filed in Manpada, Kolsewadi and Bazarpet police stations and were related to molestation, sexual assault, indecent exposure, and obscene gestures targeting women and minor girls, Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende told reporters, according to the PTI.

The cases were registered under Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on May 25 and 28 and the chargesheets were filed on May 27 and 30 respectively after special teams were formed to complete the probe in a speedy manner, he added.

“This is the first time in recent years that chargesheets have been filed in grave crimes against women within 48 hours. The aim is to ensure women get justice as quickly as possible and the accused get the strictest punishment speedily,” the DCP asserted, as per the PTI.

Three persons were arrested in the three cases by teams led by sub inspector Amol Andhale of Bazarpet police station, assistant inspector Eknath Paulbudhe of Manpada police station and sub inspector Suresh Nalawade of Kolsewadi police station, he added.

“They recorded statements of key witnesses, compiled necessary evidence and then submitted three comprehensive chargsheets in the Kalyan District and Sessions Court,” Zende said, the news agency reported.

Woman sentenced to 14 years in jail for pushing two minor girls into prostitution

Meanwhile, in an another incident, a special court in Maharashtra`s Thane city has sentenced a 40-year-old housewife to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for pushing two minor girls into prostitution, reported the PTI.

In his order of May 30, Special POCSO Act Judge D S A Deshmukh also imposed a fine of Rs 14,000 on the convict, a resident of Mumbai`s Goregaon area, according to the PTI.

According to Special Public Prosecutor Rekha Hiwrale, a total of seven witnesses were examined during the trial.

The woman, a resident of Mumbai, was apprehended with two minor girls at a hotel near the Passport Office, in Thane`s Wagle Estate area on April 5, 2021.

The court was told that `Minor Girl-A` and the woman`s daughter were friends. The convict told Minor Girl-A, who came from a poor family, that she would get good money through prostitution. Subsequently, the woman used to send her to customers, the court was told.

The second victim, identified in court documents as `Minor Girl-M`, corroborated this account.

Considering the gravity of the offence, the judge said, this is not the case to show leniency to the accused. He then sentenced the woman to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment, the news agency reported.

(with PTI inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day