the goan I network
MARGAO
The South Goa Sessions Court on Wednesday formally framed charges in the Betalbatim gang rape after the three accused persons from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, pleaded not guilty in the heinous crime, setting the stage for the commencement of the trial in the case from November 1.
Criminal charges under section 376-D of the IPC for gang rape, Wrongful restraint (section 341), Assault (323), Robbery (392) and Extortion (384) were applied against the three accused Ishwar Mackwana (27), Ram Bariya (19) and Sanjeev Pal (23) after Additional Sessions Judge, Vijaya
Ambre, read out the charges to the accused in the open court room.
When the accused were produced in the accused box, Judge Vijaya Ambre read out the charges against the accused, including the first charge that the accused persons on the night of May 24, between 8.20 pm and 8.50 pm, wrongfully restrained the 20-year-old victim girl and her boyfriend and threatened them with dire consequences before inducing the boy to hand over the keys of the scooter, thereby committing robbery.
Thereafter, the judge read out the charge that the trio assaulted the victim’s boyfriend with fist blows and thereafter they had forceful sexual intercourse with the victim by taking turns against her wish and consent.
The judge further read out the charge that the accused forcefully got the victim and her boyfriend to undress before clicking their photos and video in a semi-nude state and demanded an amount of Rs 10,500 in a bid to extort money from the victims or else threatened to make the photograph and the video of the duo viral on social media.
