Cops look for mobile phone used to click victim photo

Mumbai Police Crime Branch officers are searching for a mobile phone that Mohammad Qasim,allegedly the prime accused in the gangrape of a photojournalist at Shakti Mills compound in Mahalaxmi,had used to click a photograph of the victim.

According to the police,four of the five accused were carrying mobile phones with them when the crime took place. Following the gangrape,the accused took two photographs of the victim using a mobile phone,and threatened to circulate the photographs if she approached the police. Qasim has claimed that he sold his mobile phone while he was on the run. Qasim had allegedly even destroyed his SIM card,fearing that he would get tracked through his mobile phone.

Qasim allegedly revealed that he had sold his mobile phone as he needed money for food while he was on the run.

The victim has told us that after the five men had raped her,the accused took two photographs of her and threatened her that he would circulate her photos if she complained, an officer said.

Police officers said even Vijay Jadhav,arrested a day earlier,had destroyed his SIM card while he was hiding at his friends video parlour in Madanpura.

The mobile phones of the accused,especially Qasims,is essential as a crucial piece of evidence to establish their presence at the crime scene, said an officer from the Crime Branch who did not wish to be named.