Mumbai less safe for women since ’93 riots,says HC

The court was hearing the case pertaining to the confirmation of the death sentence handed out to two men after the trial court held them guilty of gang-raping and murdering a 22-year-old employee of a leading BPO on November 1,2007. Pushottam Borale (26) and Pradeep Kokade (20) had picked up the victim from her home in Pashan around 10.15 pm in a pick-up service engaged by her employer. She was on her way to the office at Hinjewadi on the night shift from 11 pm to 9 am. However,the accused duo allegedly abducted her and took her to Guhane village near Maval where they raped and then killed the victim by strangulating her with her dupatta,smashing her head with a stone and slashing her wrist with a blade.

Imposing the harshest sentence,the trial court had observed,“The impact of the crime on the community and particularly women working in night shifts at this hub of Information Technology,Pune,brings the case within rarest of rare and merits death penalty and none else.”

Although the duo was awarded capital punishment by the trial court on March 20,their sentence cannot be executed until it is confirmed by the High Court.

The two accused were arrested by the Chatuhshringi police station on November 3,2007 after the victim’s body was found by the police and identified by her family.

According to the prosecution,the two also stole the victim’s gold jewellery,watch,mobile phone and wallet after killing her. The cab drivers thereafter went to pick up her co-worker on night shift and said that they were late because of a flat tyre on the way.

“The crime has been committed and executed in a pre-planned manner which shows determination of both the accused to complete the crime….this incident had sent shock waves throughout the city of Pune and particularly the IT sector which has gained roots in Pune,” the trial court had observed.