A special court in Mumbai designated to hear cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has awarded death sentence to a 45-year-old man, who after raping a woman in a tempo, inserted a weapon in her private parts, pulling out her intestines, leading to her death.
Special Judge H C Shende passed the order on a case filed against Mohan Chauhan, resident of Uttar Pradesh, who was booked by the Mumbai Police in September last year, for raping a woman belonging to the Scheduled Caste.
As per the case, the accused labourer, who has two daughters and a son, raped the woman, daughter of a vegetable vendor, in a tempo parked on a street in Mumbai’s Saki Naka area.
He then inserted a weapon in her private parts and forcefully pulled out her intestines, which led to her death.
He was convicted under charges of rape, murder and other relevant provisions of the Bombay Police Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Quoting Swami Vivekananda, Judge Shende said, “The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its woman.
“This incident has brought down the dignity of the society and Mumbai, the city that never sleeps,” she added.
In her 244-page judgement, Judge Shinde noted that people of different cultures live together in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai and celebrate all the festivals together.
Talking about the incident, which took place on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi last year, she said the Ganpati festival was celebrated with great joy in the capital town of Maharashtra, wherein people from various corners of the country visited the city.
As per the Court, this was not only the murder of a woman, but her dignity. She said it showed how unsafe was Mumbai for women during night time, even if they were accompanied by someone they knew.
The prosecution, by examining nearly 37 witnesses, has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, along with the forensic reports, noted the Court.
It said that it would be a travesty of justice, if leniency or mercy was shown in the case of such heinous crime and to the accused, who did not show any repentance or remorse, after exhibiting such extreme depraved mentality.
Chauhan was convicted under charges of rape, murder and other relevant provisions of the Bombay Police Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Case title: State of Maharashtra vs Mohan Kathwaru Chauhan