Molestation victim revises statement, alleges rape; political outfit says it's not first offence committed by accused
Molestation victim revises statement, alleges rape; political outfit says it's not first offence committed by accused
Garden Superintendent (Trees) Ashok Ghorpade of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is in murky waters. The Sahakarnagar police have slapped rape charges against him and rearrested him just days after his release on bail.
Arrest, bail and arrest: PMC Garden Superintendent Ashok Ghorpade;u00a0
a picture of his taken by the victim as he allegedly tried to enter her
home forcibly
The action follows what may have been a suicide attempt by the victim on Saturday after she had filed a fresh application with the police accusing Ghorpade of rape. The 30-year-old woman had on Friday lodged a molestation complaint against Ghorpade, but he managed to get bail the same day.
The PMC has also ordered an inquiry against Ghorpade. Besides, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has written a letter to the PMC accusing Ghorpade of being a serial offender.
Senior Police Inspector Bajirao Bhosale of Sahakarnagar Police station said, "Since the woman submitted a revised statement on Saturday stating she was sexually abused several times and threatened by Ghorpade, we arrested him on Monday. She also said that she was under a lot of stress and thus consumed an overdose of sleeping pills."
The police have now arrested Ghorpade under Section 376 of the IPC.
Victim speaks
Ghorpade was first arrested after the victim (name withheld to protect identity), a resident of Bibwewadi, filed a case of molestation against him on Friday.
The police arrested him and granting him bail in an hour. Following Ghorpade's quick bail, the woman consumed sleeping pills on Saturday night. She was admitted to a city hospital and discharged after treatment.
"It was so shocking to see Ghorpade released in an hour after he was arrested," the victim said. "I had to spend eight hours shuttling between the chowky and the Sahakanagar police station just to lodge a complaint."
She added that once she decided to lodge a complaint, she was pressured from various quarters to take back her complaint.
"I received five to six calls from his (Ghorpade's) colleagues," she said. "They threatened me, saying they would harm my family and me if I did not take back the charges. I took this extreme step (attempting suicide) because I could not endure the trauma and humiliation."
According to the woman, she first met Ghorpade two and a half years ago when she had approached the Garden Department to trim the trees on her society premises.
"The officials demanded a bribe. I decided not to pursue the issue and went on vacation. But my neighbours cut the trees in my absence and Ghorpade sent me a notice," she said. "When I told him that I was not responsible for the act, he said the matter could be discussed over a cup of coffee."
She met Ghorpade and subsequently developed a professional relationship with him.
"Later, he professed his love for me and said that he wanted to marry me. When I refused he kept sending me obscene messages and threatened my family," she said. This was when I decided to lodge a complaint against him."
MNS accusations
Sanjay Bhosale, environmental head, MNS city unit, said that he had submitted a memorandum to Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade yesterday and warned him of an agitation if action is not taken against Ghorpade and his colleagues in the case. Bhosale accused Ghorpade and two horticulture officers of exploiting women in the past.
"Ghorpade and his colleagues have also harassed Class IV women employees of the Garden Department and have threatened them with a transfer," he said.
PMC inquiry
Additional Commissioner (Special) Devnikar has ordered an inquiry against Ghorpade.
"We are aware about Ghorpade's arrest and we are conducting an inquiry," Devnikar said. "We will certainly take appropriate action if he is found guilty."
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| Repeat offender? |
| >>An environmentalist from the city, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "Ghorpade exploited a woman working in the Electricity Works Department of the PMC in the past. She is now in Germany." |
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