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All 4 Moga molestation-death case accused walk free
The shocking case had triggered a statewide outrage and political backlash for then SAD-BJP government as the bus belonged to Orbit, a company owned by the Badal family.
A local court on Monday acquitted four persons, arrested in the infamous 2015 Moga molestation case in which a 13-year-old girl died after being molested and pushed off a moving, following lack of evidence.
The shocking case had triggered a statewide outrage and political backlash for then SAD-BJP government as the bus belonged to Orbit, a company owned by the Badal family.
The court of additional district and sessions judge Lakhwinder Kaur Duggal acquitted bus driver Ranjit Singh, conductor Sukhwinder Singh alias Pamma and two helpers --- Gurdeep Singh alias Jimmy and Amar Ram --- after prime witnesses, including girl’s mother Shinder Kaur, who was the complainant, and father Sukhdev Singh, turned hostile.
The accused were booked by the Baghapurana police under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 3 of the SC/ST Act and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Defence counsels Anupinder Singh Sekhon and Ramandeep Singh Aulakh said the prosecution failed to produce enough evidence against their clients in the court.
After outcry, the state government had given the girl’s family a compensation of Rs 24 lakh, besides offering a government job to one member of the family.
The case file
April 29, 2015: 13-year-old girl dies after being molested and thrown out of an Orbit bus
April 30: Baghapurana police register FIR against four, including driver, conductor and two helpers for murder and other sections
May 3: Orbit bus company offers Rs 24 lakh to girl’s family, state govt promises job to kin
May 4: Family cremates the girl after accepting compensation
Feb 9, 2016: Victim’s mother Shinder Kaur refuses to identify accused during a hearing, claiming that she was not fully conscious when cops recorded her statement
March 25: Girl’s brother, another witness refuse to identify the accused in court.
March 30: Court grants bail to two helpers.
April 29: Ticket issuer Balraj Singh turns hostile
July 17: Court acquits all four for want of evidence
