The Bombay High Court is likely to pronounce the judgment on an appeal filed by Sunil Kashikar, who was convicted for throwing acid on a girl five years back. On November 19, 2004, sessions court had convicted Kashikar to six years imprisonment and had imposed a fine of 5 lakh on him. Kashikar had approached the High Court seeking reduction in sentence and fine.
Kashikar had been eve-teasing the victim Aparna Prabhu (26) since her school days and used to follow her to her tutions and other places. On March 10, 1999 Kashikar telephoned Prabhu on her residence number and asked her to marry him. An aggrieved Aparna simply disconnected the phone without responding. The following day, Kashikar intercepted Prabhu outside her office at Khar, where she worked as a telemarketing executive. Kashikar once again proposed marriage to her.
Prabhu had said in her statement that she had noticed a yellow plastic bag in Kashikar's hand when he was talking to her outside her office. When Aparna began protesting, Kashikar removed a plastic can from the bag and poured its contents over her. She realised that the liquid was acid when her body and clothes started burning.
She was immediately rushed to the Babha hospital. She had suffered injuries on her head, face, neck, chest, arms and her right eye. After the acid attack, Prabhu underwent treatment for 4 months at the Marina hospital and had to undergo 15 skin grafting operations.
{{/usCountry}}She was immediately rushed to the Babha hospital. She had suffered injuries on her head, face, neck, chest, arms and her right eye. After the acid attack, Prabhu underwent treatment for 4 months at the Marina hospital and had to undergo 15 skin grafting operations.
{{/usCountry}}Incidentally, after pouring acid on Prabhu, Kashikar, then a final year student of chartered accountancy, consumed poison. However, he was saved.
After the trial court sentenced him to six years with Rs 5-lakh compensation, Kashikar filed an appeal at the Bombay High Court. During the last hearing, Kashikar’s counsel argued that he had committed the act out of frustration and he will not prove to be a danger to the society now.
Justice AM Khanwilkar while reserving the order for December 20, had observed that he was not inclined to reduce the 6 year sentence, however, he may consider the reduction in compensation amount considering his financial situation.