A sessions court on Thursday convicted five men of two gang rapes committed in the deserted Shakti Mills compound here last year.
Among the victims was a photojournalist who had gone to the location on an assignment. Later, another woman, a telephone operator, complained that she too was assaulted there earlier.
Three of the five men convicted — Vijay Jadhav, Qasim Sheikh alias Bengali and Salim Ansari — were held guilty of both crimes.
All the five have been charged under the amended Section 376 D of IPC and are facing life term. Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam urged the court to award them the “strictest punishment.” The quantum of punishment will be announced on Friday.
Two other accused are minors and are being tried by the Juvenile Justice Court.
Time line of the Shakti mills gang rape cases
August 22, 2013 : City photojournalist gang raped by five men at Mumbai’s Shakti Mills Compound. She was accompanied by a male colleague.
August 23 : The Mumbai police solve the case with the arrest of a 17 year old accused. The rest of the accused are arrested in a week.
September 3 : An 18 year-old-girl complains she was also gang raped at Shakti Mills by 5 men (including three accused in the previous case) on July 13th, 2013.
September 19 : The Mumbai police file a chargesheet in the photojournalist case.
October 8 : The Mumbai police file a chargesheet in the second case, request the court to club both the cases.
October 17: – The photojournalist faints in court during her deposition.
October 30: The survivor of the second case during her deposition seeks permission from the court to beat up the accused.
March 5 , 2014 - The accused record their statements in court, deny allegations
