Cops file 885-pg chargesheet

The police said the teenager had registered the case against 33 persons, who she claims had committed the crime for nearly nine months

The Manpada police in Dombivali have filed an 885-page chargesheet in the case of a 15-year-old girl’s gangrape that was reported in September after several months of assault, in which 33 men have been arrested so far. The police have examined and recorded statements of around 121 witnesses in the case, which were produced in a Kalyan court as part of the chargesheet.

The police said the teenager had registered the case against 33 persons, who she claims had committed the crime for nearly nine months. The matter came to light on September 23, after the girl with the help of some alert citizens approached the Manpada police, which completed most part of the investigation within 45 days.

The victim claims the sexual assault on her took place between January 29 and September 22. According to her statement, she was raped at different places, including Dombivali, Badlapur, Rabale and Murbad. After the case was registered, deputy commissioner of police (Kalyan division) Sachin Gunjal had formed four teams to trace the accused. The case was investigated by assistant commissioner of police Sonali Dhole. Accordingly a case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

After it was reported in the media, various political parties had demanded strict action against the accused. They had demanded that the case be taken up on a fast track basis and that the chargesheet be filed at the earliest. A police officer said among the 33 accused, four are minors, who were detained and sent to observation homes but have applied for bail.