In the 14-year-old gang rape case of Bilkis Bano, the defence came prepared with a volley of attacks yesterday when the Bombay High Court held the first hearing of the appeal, filed by 11 accused, against a lower court's order sentencing them to life imprisonment
In the 14-year-old gang rape case of Bilkis Bano, the defence came prepared with a volley of attacks yesterday when the Bombay High Court held the first hearing of the appeal, filed by 11 accused, against a lower court's order sentencing them to life imprisonment.
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Senior counsel Harshad Ponda, representing five of the 11 accused, told the court that the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) theory of the murder case was full of loopholes. "While the CBI said eight people were killed, bodies of only seven were found. The evidence it submitted mentions eight bodies, five females and two males, but the photographs are of four females and three males. Also, the locals, who they claimed clicked the pictures, say they never clicked any," said Ponda.
He further said that Bilkis too was lying and CBI had fabricated evidence to suit her theory. "Bilkis said that her sister's two-day-old baby was killed, but no such body was found. Also, if her daughter Saleha was murdered, where is the body?" Ponda said while adding, "If Bilkis claims she was gang raped by three while she was five months pregnant, how is it possible that her daughter is so healthy."
On the other hand, the prosecution lawyer Hiten Venegaonkar had to face the ire of the HC bench, comprising Justices Vijay Tahilramani and Mrudula Bhatkar, when he got confused while presenting the case. "You should come prepared and bring a table explaining your case," Justice Bhatkar told Venegaonkar. Meanwhile, the CBI demanded death for three of the accused.
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