The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed model Siddesh Dashrath Juvekar to face trial for having allegedly raped and cheated a girl from Navelim in south Goa.
Juvekar, a resident of Betul in south Goa was on November 13, 2013, charged by the Colva Police under Sections 376 and 420 of Indian Penal Code for rape and cheating. He was accused of having repeated forcible sexual intercourse with the victim under the false promise of marrying her. He was further charged of cheating the victim to the tune of Rs.5 lakh by taking money from her on the false pretext of starting a business.
Juvekar was, however, on July 4, 2014, discharged by the south Goa Additional Sessions Judge. The victim, through a Criminal Writ Petition, moved the High Court challenging the order.
Allowing the victim's petition, Justice S.B. Shukre of the Bombay High Court at Goa while quashing and setting aside the south Goa Additional District Judge’s order has directed the accused to appear before the Margao Sessions Court on March 14 and face the trial.
Justice Shukre in his order has observed that the south Goa Additional Sessions Judge had committed illegality by discharging the accused in disregard of the well-settled principles of law and that such an order cannot stand the scrutiny of law.
Incidentally, the accused had represented Goa and was the first runner up at the ‘Mr. India Man Hunt’ contest held last year at New Delhi by Sky Walk Entertainment.
