3 Years After Rape of 6-yr-old in Bengaluru, Trial is Yet to Start

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangaluru,March 28,2017: It was a case that shook Bengaluru. In July 2014, the city woke up to the news that a six-year-old had been raped in an affluent school in Varthur, Whitefield.

As details of the horrors inflicted on the child were reported, the school was dismissive, making emotions surge.

The city witnessed massive protests where residents from all walks of life took to the streets. The fate of the six-year-old had woken up Bengaluru’s parents to the fact that their child too, could face such violence.

After an investigation that was in the public glare, a man was arrested by the Bengaluru police. The very next day, he was let off, and the police called it a case of mistaken arrest.

Two gym instructors at the school – Lalgiri and Waseem Pasha – were soon held. They were charged under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (Rape), Section 4 of POCSO (penetrative sexual assault), and Section 6 of POCSO

In October 2014, the Bengaluru (Rural) police filed a charge sheet in the case.

While the protests died down after the arrest, media reports on the issue stopped after the charge sheet was filed.

What Has Happened to the Trial?

According to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, such cases have to be tried by the special court within one year.

It has been almost three years since the charge sheet was filed, but there has been no conviction, and even the trial has not properly commenced.

After three long years, the evidence proceedings were to finally begin on 8 March, 2017. However, the hearing was postponed until 11 April.

A source told TNM that the prosecution has made a list of 30 witnesses and is still in the process of tracking them.

“It will take another two or three months. Also, the survivor’s family has left town. They will need to come back if they are called to depose before the court,” the source said.


If witnesses ask for time, the court must provide it. None of the witnesses have appeared in the last one year and the depositions have not yet begun, he added.

“Tracking all witnesses down is difficult. Also, the principal of the school initially said that the school had conducted background checks, and only then had they employed the gym instructors. She was of the opinion that they had not committed the crime. Later, she switched sides and came forward as a witness,” a source close to the investigation said.
So, Where Are the Accused?

All three accused, Lalgiri, Waseem Pasha and Rustum Keravala are out on bail, said sources with knowledge about the trial.

According to DCP Whitefield, Narayana, the police have no details about the whereabouts of the accused after they were released on bail.

Varthur Inspector SudhakarOne of the accused (Keravala) has gone back to Mumbai, but we do not have information about the whereabouts of the other two. The trial is on, and either they will go to the court or their lawyers will represent them.

A source with knowledge of the proceedings told TNM that the bail order does not allow the accused to leave the jurisdiction of the district headquarters until the trial is over, and that all the three accused have to appear before the court on every date of hearing.

Courtesy: Yahoo.com