the goan I network
MARGAO
Contrary to claims made by the police and other authorities not too long ago that the case will be fast tracked to mete out justice for the victim within a shortest possible time, the Betalbatim gang rape case seems to have been stuck at the stage of argument on the question of the accused being represented by lawyers under the legal aid scheme.
It’s now more than a month since the Colva police had filed a chargesheet in the court on July 19 last. And, it will be a month on August 31, that the three rape accused Ishwar Mackwana (27), Ram Bariya (19) and Sanjeev Pal (23) had appeared before the Sessions court on July 31, but arguments before framing of charges against the accused have not taken place till date for want of a lawyer under the free legal aid scheme.
When the case came up for hearing on Monday for arguments before framing of charges, the three accused were brought to the court. Adv Julius Gomes is the new lawyer appointed under the legal aid scheme to represent the accused in the case, but the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Vijaya Amre adjourned the matter to September 11 as Adv Gomes is presently out of station.
Sources in the court said that arguments in the case will take place on September 11 or on September 19 depending on the return of Adv Gomes. It’s still unclear whether Adv Gomes has accepted the offer made under the legal aid scheme to take up the brief for the three rape accused.
Adv Gomes has been appointed under the legal aid scheme after city-based lawyer, Adv Peter Fernandes declined to take up the brief for the rape accused at the last date of hearing on grounds that he is preoccupied with other legal matters, leaving the Judge with no option than to adjourn the matter to August 27.
Citing as many as 55 witnesses in support of its case, with a senior police official saying the onus now lies on the accused persons to come clear in the rape case, Colva police had hoped that arguments take place to pave way for the expeditious trial.
The three accused have been charged by the Colva police for gang-raping a 20-year-old girl and for assaulting her 22-year-old boyfriend at Betalbatim’s Sunset beach on May 25 night.
In the chargesheet, the Colva police stated that the accused persons on the night of May 24, between 8.20 pm to 8.50 pm, the accused wrongfully restrained the victim and her boyfriend and threatened them with dire consequences before inducing the boy to hand over the keys of the scooter, thereby committing robbery.
The police further stated that the trio assaulted the victim’s boyfriend with fist blows and thereafter they had forceful sexual intercourse with the victim in turns against her wish and consent.
The accused were further accused of forcefully getting the victim and her boyfriend to undress before clicking their photos and video in a semi-nude state.
