Gopal Sarkar, the second suspect arrested in the gangrape of a 71-year-old nun at a convent here two weeks ago, was produced before a local court and remanded to 14-day CID custody today.
The order was passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Papiya Das, who agreeing to the prosecution's submission charged him under IPC sections 212 and 216(a) (harbouring the offender before) apart from IPC sections 395 (dacoity), 397 (dacoity with attempt to cause grievous hurt or death) and 376 (rape).
Apart from being allegedly involved in the heinous crime, he had given shelter to the other culprits involved in it.
Sarkar was arrested from his home at Habra in North 24 Parganas district yesterday and two mobiles were seized from him.
Like yesterday when the first suspect Mohammed Salim Sheikh found no lawyer to represent him when he was produced in court after his arrest in Mumbai by West Bengal police, Sarkar too found none to stand for him.
Milan Sarkar, secretary of Ranaghat Bar Association said the decision not to represent them was taken as they had committed a "heinous crime".
However, the two will get the legal assistance from the Sub-Divisional Legal Aid Committee, its representative and advocate Basudeb Mukhopadhy had said yesterday.
Sheikh, who was brought here on transit remand, too was remanded to 14 days in CID custody.
The Sister Superior of the Convent of Jesus and Mary at Gangnapur here was gangraped in the early hours on March 14 after which a CID probe was ordered into the incident. The nun left for an undisclosed location outside West Bengal after her discharge from hospital.
A study of the CCTV footage at the convent in Ranaghat subdivision had shown visuals of four persons, who were allegedly involved in the crime, which sparked outrage in the country and abroad.
The gang also took away Rs 12 lakh kept in the almirah locker before fleeing the place.
