THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Sherin Paul on Saturday held guilty and convicted Goan model Siddesh Juvekar, who was accused of allegedly raping a girl from Navelim.
Judge Paul pronounced the Judgement on Saturday evening, capping the trial ahead of the six month time-frame set by the High Court. The Sessions Court will now hear the accused on the point of sentence on September 7.
The prosecution represented by Public Prosecutor Clarita Simoes examined 14 witnesses in support of its case. PP Simoes told the media after the Court pronounced the order that the Court has disposed off the case ahead of the six month deadline set by the High Court.
Siddesh Juvekar was on November 13, 2013 chargesheeted by the Colva Police under Sections 376 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code on charges of rape and cheating. He was allegedly accused of having repeated forcible sexual intercourse with the victim girl under the false promise of marrying her. He was further charged with cheating the victim to the tune of over Rs 10 lakh by taking money from her on the false pretext of starting a business.
On July 4, 2014, he was discharged by the then South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Vandana Tendulkar. The victim girl, however, through a Criminal Writ Petition filed by Adv Aires Rodrigues moved the High Court challenging the order discharging the accused.
Allowing the victim’s petition Justice S B Shukre of the Bombay High Court at Goa while quashing and setting aside the South Goa Additional District Judge’s order had directed the accused to appear before the Margao Sessions Court and to face trial for the alleged offences.
