Chargesheet filed against all accused

According to the statement of her colleague,now a prime witness in the case,they had gone to Shakti Mills on August 22 for an assignment. The desolate mill had no clear access and they stood outside for a few minutes,before finding a way in. They were stopped by two men who told them there was a better access road ahead,he said.

The victim and her colleague have identified the two men as Vijay Jadhav,18,and Salim Ansari,27. In his statement,the colleague has mentioned three other men — Mohammad Kasim Hafiz Shaikh,21,Siraj Rehman Khan,24,and a 16- year-old — who joined the duo. He said the accused tied him up with three belts — his,the victim’s,and one belonging to an accused — and left him in one side of the mill,while the victim was taken inside,where the accused allegedly raped her.

“At regular intervals,I heard her shriek,” said the colleague in his statement. He was told that she was being “inquired” and that she was not co-operating. After all five men had allegedly raped her,the first rapist,identified as Shaikh,once again raped the victim.

According to the victim’s statement,when she cried,Kasim threatened her with broken glass and said,“Main jaisa bolta hun waisa chupchap kar,nahin to tujhe aur tere dost ko yahin maar daalunga. Tereko maloom nahin kitna kameena hun. Tu pehli ladki nahin hain,humne kai ladkiyon ka rape kiya hain. Mera koi baal baka nahin kar sakta (Do as I say without protest,or I will kill you and your friend right here. You don’t know the kind of rogue I am. You’re not the first girl,we have raped many other girls. Nobody can harm me).”

The victim reportedly informed her colleague about what had transpired only after reaching Mahalaxmi station at 7:15 pm. Their editor and the victim’s parents were informed and the victim was taken to hospital.

The chargesheet has the statements of as many as 86 witnesses,along with the victim’s medical report,22 DNA test reports,eight mobile tower readings of the accused and the witness,and 26 seized items from the scene of the crime.

The Mumbai Police recorded the victim’s statement before a magistrate at her residence,after she wrote to the police seeking exemption from appearing before the court. This was done following the recent amendment introduced to the Code of Criminal Procedure Act,making the recording of statements before a magistrate mandatory.

All the accused have been booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy,gangrape,unnatural offences,simple injury,destruction of evidence and criminal intimidation.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy said a team of 12 officers and 30 constables had worked tirelessly to ensure that the chargesheet could be filed in 28 days.