Journalism of Courage
Nikam objects to suspects plea on lawyer
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has objected to the plea of the accused in continuing with services of tainted lawyer Mahendra Kawchale for their trial in the rape-murder case of BPO employee Jyotikumari Chaudhuri . The two accused Purushottam Borate and Pradep Kokate had filed the plea on Friday. Nikam,in his say submitted in the court of principal district and sessions judge Anant Badar,said Kawachale has misguided the court by practicing without his sanad. Nikam has also filed a list of complaints pending against Kawachale. The court is expected to pass an order in this regard by the month-end. The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa had suspended Kawchales sanad on May 10 after finding he had submitted forged documents. Kawchale had represented Borate and Kokate without a sanad.
MNS corporator acquitted of rioting charges
The court of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) Manikrao Satav acquitted MNS corporator Vasant More from charges of rioting and damage of property,for lack of evidence. On July 15,2008,Around 15-16 persons had entered Bharati Vidyapeeth campus in Katraj on motorbikes. They also pelted stones at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Rajeev Gandhi Biotechnology building to protest against the college giving jobs and admission to ‘outsiders’. The prosecution had failed to examine the girl students who was allegedly injured in the incident. There is no direct as well as circumstantial evidence brought on record by the prosecution. The prosecution has failed to bring home the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubts, says the order. Rajabhau Kisanrao Kadam,Abhijit Pramod Deshpnde,Hanumant Laxman Bhosale,Madhukar alias Vasant Shyamrao Pandit,Chandrakant Shivaji Gogawale,Sandeep Shyamrao Gavhane and Ravi Eknath Sakpal were acquitted.
Assault on official: MNS corporator granted bail
NCP corporator Sandeep Ladkat,who was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly abusing and assaulting Bhavani Peth regional ward officer Mahadeo Gaikwad was granted bail on Thursday. The court of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) Swarup Bose granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 15,000. Gaikwad was at the wedding of a relative on Wednesday afternoon,when Ladkat got into an argument over an illegal shed constructed in Gaikwad’s ward office jurisdiction. Ladkat and his supporters had allegedly thrashed Gaikwad.
(Aaditi Jathar Lakade)
