29 June,2011 06:12 AM IST | | Kaumudi Gurjar
Undertrials say cop hit them for informing him that court hearing had been deferred
The three arrested in connection with the gang rape of a 26 year-old woman in April last year filed a complaint before the court claiming they were beaten up by the Yerawada prison jailer. Subhash Bhosale, Ganesh Kamble and Ranjeet Gade submitted an application saying they were beaten up by the jailer yesterday, when they informed him that a court hearing had been postponed. Bhosale, Kadam and Gade said they were also paraded half-naked at the prison. The trio was arrested for the rape of an MBA graduate in April 2010. On the pretext of offering her a lift, the alleged rapists took her for a ride. Taking advantage of the fact that the lady was unfamiliar with the city, the three men assaulted her at an isolated spot in Hinjewadi. The trio was arrested within a week of the incident and subsequently sent to the Yerawada jail. The case was transferred to the fast track court and Advocate Ujjwal Nikam appointed the public prosecutor.
Jail refutes charge
S V Khatavkar, superintendent of Yerwada jail, rubbished the allegations. "All the undertrials were asked to assemble for their respective court hearings. Kamble and Gade did not turn up. Pleading ill-health, the third accused Bhosale asked S N Rakh, the jailer, to be admitted to the Sassoon hospital. He already knew that Public Prosecutor Nikam would not be present at the court," said Khatavkar. "The jail administration did not heed the plea and shoved the trio into a vehicle, so they could be in court on time."
Additional Sessions Court Judge WK Sangle directed the superintendent of Yerawada jail to conduct an inquiry into the allegations of the three accused. "I will record the statements of those who were present in the room where undertrials assemble for their court hearings. The trio will be sent to the Sassoon hospital and their health report submitted to the court."
