Mumbai: Arguments conclude in telephone operator gangrape case

Mumbai: The final arguments in Shakti Mill telephone operator gangrape case were concluded by the defence on Tuesday, paving the way for pronouncement of judgment by the court.  "The final arguments in the telephone operator gangrape case is over and the court may give a date for pronouncement of judgment," special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told PTI. Nikam said he is likely to begin final arguments in the Shakti Mill photo-journalist case on Wednesday. Police had arrested Ashfaq Sheikh, Kasim Hafiz Sheikh alias Kasim Bangali, Salim Ansari, Vijay Jadhav and a minor in connection with the gang rape of a 18-year-old operator on 31 July, 2013. On 8 October, police filed a 362-page chargesheet against four accused in connection with the gang rape whereas the minor’s case was separated. In another case, a photo journalist, interning with an English magazine in Mumbai, was gangraped by five people, including a juvenile, when she had gone to the deserted mill compound along with her male colleague on an assignment. The accused - Vijay Jadhav, Kasim Bengali, Salim Ansari and Siraj Rehman - have been charged with rape, conspiracy, common intention, unnatural sex and charges under Information Technology Act, whereas the juvenile is being tried separately. On 19 September, the Mumbai crime branch had filed a 600-page charge sheet against the four accused. PTI