Molestation: wasn146;t us, say 12 accused

A day after they were released from the Arthur Road Jail, 12 of the 14 young men arrested for allegedly molesting two NRI women...

A day after they were released from the Arthur Road Jail, 12 of the 14 young men arrested for allegedly molesting two NRI women in Juhu on New Year8217;s day claimed that they had been caught in a mob and had nothing to with the incident.

8220;There was a mob of over 100 people present at the spot. Then there was a commotion and three or four of us went ahead to see what was happening. We were being pushed about. Pictures were taken and we happened to be there,8221; said Nilesh Bhagyatkar 19, one of the accused.

All residents of a Slum Rehabilitation Authority building developed three years ago in Vile Parle, the group had set off for Juhu beach after a New Year8217;s Eve party in their colony. 8220;There wasn8217;t much light, only streetlights. We could not see anyone. We don8217;t know who did those things. We cannot recognise the main accused,8221; Bhagyatkar said. 8220;Immediately after that, the police arrived and lathi-charged the mob.8221;

Another accused, Amit Kapoor 26, claimed that he was nowhere close to the scene of the incident at the time it took place, and that he had an alibi to prove he was in Vashi at the time.

8220;I left my office at 2 pm. I then went to D N Nagar to meet friends and pick up a few things for a party we were having in Vashi. I don8217;t know why my name was taken. I was told by the police that they were taking me to the police station for inquiries. As evidence, I have the receipts of credit card purchases I made at Vashi. I was with my friends and they can vouch for me,8221; said Kapoor, who introduced himself as a relations manager at Bajaj Alliance.

Claiming that a mob had gathered around the two girls on the street, another accused, Derek Jadhav 19, said: 8220;We were at a get-together and decided to go to Juhu beach to enjoy ourselves. We had a bit of liquor earlier. But we were in control,8221; he said, adding that it was difficult to see in the dark street. 8220;We will not be able to recognise the culprits. We do not know the men the police are saying to be the main accused.8221;

Meanwhile, the state Government on Wednesday filed a criminal revision application seeking custody of the accused in the Juhu molestation case. The application will come up for hearing on Thursday before Principal Judge Ashok Bhangale.

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8220;We filed a criminal revision application today seeking custody of the accused. We are arguing that the police should be given an opportunity to investigate the matter,8221; said Chief Public Prosecutor R V Kini.

The 14 accused were granted bail on a surety of Rs 10,000 each by a Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate on January 4 on the ground that they were charged with bailable offences. The accused were charged with unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint, outraging a woman8217;s modesty and causing hurt under the Indian Penal Code and the Bombay Police Act.

The accused, however, were in judicial custody for four days as the police took time to verify their sureties.