Rape accused throws slipper at judge during trial

A man in Mumbai has been booked for throwing his slipper at a judge during his POCSO trial. The judge was hit in the face and taken to the hospital. The man has been arrested and the police are investigating the motive behind the act.

Mumbai: The police have booked a man for allegedly throwing his slipper at the judge of the Dindoshi Sessions Court on Saturday during the final hearing of his POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences) trial.

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The incident occurred when the accused, Premkumar Jitlal Gupta, 43, was being sentenced by judge Sameer Akhtar Ansari at 3.30pm on Saturday. Gupta was lodged in the Thane jail in 2017 for allegedly raping a minor. Since 2019, Gupta has been on trial for the case.

After the final arguments, the judge of court number 13, asked Gupta to step into the witness box and informed him that the case against him by the public prosecutor had been concluded.

At 3.30pm, Gupta was on the stand when the judge asked him about his thoughts on the case. At this, Gupta picked up his slipper and threw it at the judge which hit him on his face. The constables in the courtroom immediately caught Gupta, a resident of Malad East, and rushed the judge to the hospital for a checkup.

“We have arrested Gupta and are investigating to find out the motive behind his act,” said a police officer.