Journalism of Courage
Rekha Anil Randive,the mother of 10-year-old Rohini Randive who was allegedly raped and murdered by a 79-year-old man in Narayan Peth,has turned an approver in the case. Investigations have revealed that the accused,Mohiniraj Yashwant Kulkarni,had molested Rohini a month before she was murdered,when Rekha a domestic maid in Kulkarnis house had settled for a salary hike.
Additional public prosecutor Vijay Fargude had,about a fortnight ago,submitted an application before additional sessions judge US Thakare,requesting him to allow Rekha to turn an approver. Rekha had moved a similar application. The court accepted the request on Tuesday.
The confessional statement of Rekha,who was charged with destroying evidence,has already been recorded before the court. Fargude said,Investigations revealed that Kulkarni had molested Rohini a month ago. When the child complained about it to Rekha and her grandmother,she was silenced by Kulkarni by offering a salary hike.
On October 14 last year ,Rohini,a resident of Ambil Odha slums,was found raped and murdered in Kulkarnis Narayan Peth bungalow. Rohini,a fourth standard student in a local school,had accompanied her mother to Kulkarnis house. Rekha found Rohinis body on the terrace of the house around 1 pm. She called Kulkarni and took the girl to Poona Hospital,where she was pronounced dead.
Kulkarni had tried to mislead Rekha by tying Rohini with her dupatta,making it look like the girl had accidentally strangulated herself. However,when Rekha got suspicious,Kulkarni confessed to her. She helped him in wiping off the blood stains and even changed Rohinis clothes, Fargude said,quoting the chargesheet.
