All accused in Manorama Kamble rape case acquitted

All the eight accused in the sensational gang rape and murder case of Manorama Kamble of Nagpur were acquitted on Friday by the district and session judge of Chhindwada due to lack of evidence, reports Pradip Kumar Maitra.

All the eight accused in the sensational gang rape and murder case of Manorama Kamble of Nagpur were acquitted on Friday by the district and session judge of Chhindwada (MP) due to lack of evidence.

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Manorama Kamble (28), a maid servant, was found dead at the Jaripatka residence of a noted city Lawyer, Shyam Dewani, on March 28, 1994. It was also alleged that the maidservant was forcibly stripped, filmed in the nude and subsequently gang raped and killed.

In view of the seriousness of the case, the matter was handed over to the state CID. The state CID had filed chargesheets against Nandlal Dewani, Anil and Sunil Dewani under sections of 302, 376 (2-G), 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) while 201 and 34 of IPC were registered against their brother, Shyam Dewani, a noted lawyer, his lawyer wife Rajshree, another brother Pratap, his wife, Jayshree and Nandlal's wife, Kavita.

There was an outcry over the issue among dalit community in the city. The case was later shifted to the neighbouring Chhindwada in Madhya Pradesh in 1995 for prosecution in the wake of Supreme Court directives.

In his order, the district and session judge of Chhindwada, HU Ahmed said that the prosecution had not been able to prove the charge of gang rape and murder against the accused. In absence of evidences, the court acquitted all the accused.