Karnataka MLA gets 7 yrs RI for rape

Patil was held guilty for submitting false affidavits, illegal marriage, kidnapping, forcing with weapons the woman to get married, wrongful confinement and rape under sections 148, 452, 366, 342, 323, 586, 506, 341 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code. The testimony of the complainant, her mother and police inspector Shrikant Kalgatgi paved way for the conviction.

Patil, resident of the city had contested for the Lok Sabha election on the Janata Dal ticket. He has allegedly more than 35 criminal cases against him. He the victim’s family friend and also had an affair with her. Assisting her father financially in his hotel business, Patil is reported to have proposed to her but was rejected. Later, Patil allegedly tried to pressure her by demanding return of money he had lent. When this did not yield positive result, Patil, along with his friends, allegedly entered the house and abducted the woman at gun point.

The woman reported that was taken to Mumbai and her family called to the residence of one Shakeel Noorani. Patil then reportedly married her and raped her repeatedly in different cities. Later, he is alleged to have demanded Rs 20 lakh from her father by way of extortion, to build a house in Hyderabad. Finally, the woman registered a complaint against Patil at the Bijapur Road police station on June 4, 1999.

In all, 12 persons testified at the trial which was held in camera.

In his argument, the Special Government Pleader Abbas Qazi brushed aside the stand of the accused that the woman was his lover. Qazi said the victim was a well-educated computer engineer and knew the seriousness of her complaint.

He brought to the notice of the judge that Patil had submitted affidavits that he was a bachelor whereas he was married and had children too. He also pointed out that Patil had acted in the same way earlier as well and in 1990, married a girl at gun point.