4 cops to separately probe rape cases against author Laxman Mane

Five women have levelled sexual harassment allegations against the writer.

The sexual harassment cases brought by five women against writer Laxman Mane will now be investigated by four officers as different cases.

The first case was filed on March 20 by three women employees of a school for underprivileged students,Shardabai Pawar Ashram Shala,at Jatakwadi in Satara who accused Mane of raping them between 2003 and 2010. Three days later,two women employees of the school in Kolhapur also levelled rape allegations against him. Mane is the executive president of the organisation that runs the schools.

“For speedy and better investigation,we have given the five cases to four different officers,including a lady sub-inspector. They will investigate these cases separately but co-ordinate with each other,” Satara Additional SP Amol Tambe said. Till now,the cases were being investigated by inspector Shrirang Langhe of Satara Taluka police station.

Meanwhile,the anticipatory bail plea filed by Mane,on the run since the cases were filed,has been rejected. Mane filed the application in a Satara court. It was rejected. The court told us to file our response on April 6, Langhe said.

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