Bhopal gangrape: Fast-track court gives life sentence to all 4 accused

The four accused gang-raped the woman while she was returning home from a coaching institute around on October 31.

Four men accused of raping a 19-year-old woman on her way back from coaching class in October were on Saturday sentenced to life imprisonment till death by a fast-track court.

The survivor -- a UPSC aspirant and the daughter of a police couple – was forced to make repeated visits to police stations as officers argued over jurisdiction in the case. (HT File Photo)

The four men stood silently as additional district and sessions judge Savita Dube delivered her verdict.

The accused had waylaid the victim while she was returning home from the coaching institute around 7pm on October 31. They dragged her to a secluded place and gang-raped her. They also snatched her mobile phone and jewellery.

The victim, in her statement to the police, said the accused tried to strangle her after the rape. Though they left the spot thinking she was dead, the survivor later returned home and informed her parents about the incident.

The survivor -- a UPSC aspirant and the daughter of a police couple – was forced to make repeated visits to police stations as officers argued over jurisdiction in the case. Though the woman was raped barely 200 metres from the Habibganj government railway police (GRP) station, officials insisted the crime scene fell in the MP Nagar police station limits. A flawed medical report later said the ‘sex was consensual’.

The chargesheet in the case was presented on November 16 and the four accused were booked under Section 376 (2) N (raping repeatedly) and other IPC sections pertaining to gang rape, attempted murder, kidnapping, causing injury and snatching valuables.