After filing the chargesheet of the Shakti Mills gang rape case in record time on Thursday, Mumbai Police asserted that they have strong evidence against all five accused in the case to press for 'maximum' punishment in Court.
"We believe we have collected very strong evidence against all the accused in this case-documentary, scientific, as well as technical evidence. We are clearly working towards a conviction in this case and will ask for the maximum punishment under law," Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police Himanshu Roy said.
"A team of 12 police officers and 30 men and women of the Crime Branch has worked night and day since the date of the incident to file this chargesheet in record time of 28 days," he added.
The accused, who were produced in Court this morning, will be tried under 376 E, 377, 341, 342, 506 (Section 2), 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
Notably, IPC's Section 120B of criminal conspiracy has also been added to the chargesheet by the Mumbai Police. Media reports suggest that this development comes after a new witness has come forward and is willing to testify against the two accused, who made a phone call to the three others to join them in the heinous act.
The 600 page chargesheet was prepared after examining 86 witnesses and on the basis of 22 DNA reports.
Meanwhile, the defence lawyer for the four accused complained to the court that he had been receiving threats from various people to drop the case.
"When I was going to the police station to meet the accused, I was stopped on way and I was threatened to withdraw from this case or I would face severe consequences," Moin Khan said.
The fifth accused in the case is a juvenile and is presently in the custody of the Juvenile Court.
The five accused in the Shakti Mills gang rape of a 23-year-old photojournalist on August 22 are Salim Ansari, Vijay Jadhav, Chand Babu Sattar Shaikh, Mohammed Kasim Hafiz Shaikh alias Kasim Bengali and Siraj Rehman Khan.
The incident took place in Lower Parel area of Mumbai where the 23-year-old woman, an intern with an English Magazine, had gone for an assignment.
According to police, the men tied up the friend who was accompanying her and raped the woman.
The victim, who was admitted to Jaslok Hospital, has recovered from her injuries and has been sent home.
