Thane: The Thane Sessions Court has rejected the bail application of Adwait Uday Khochare, a third-year IIT Kharagpur student, who was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old mentally ill child on June 10 and recording the alleged act. Judge D. S. Deshmukh, presiding over the court, held that there is sufficient prima facie evidence against the accused to indicate that he intentionally committed the act.
The order copy states that the pen drive submitted by the Investigating Officer contains a video of the sexual assault committed by the accused against the minor victim, which was recorded by the accused himself. He then sent the video to his friend, Sunny Kamble, who subsequently informed the police about the incident.
The court maintained that the record shows that Sunny informed the police after seeing the video sent by the accused. Without this, the incident would not have come to light.
The order copy further notes that upon viewing the video, the police visited the victim's house because the mentally ill girl had not told her mother about the incident. "After seeing the video, the informant, who is the victim's mother, identified the victim girl as her daughter and subsequently lodged a complaint."
"At the time of the bail application hearing, the pen drive was played on a laptop. I have personally seen the video. The video clearly shows the applicant sexually assaulting the victim child. There is prima facie evidence against the accused. He intentionally took advantage of the victim girl's mental illness. As already discussed, the victim girl's family resides on a footpath, and the victim girl was begging. There is a possibility that the applicant may pressure or lure them. Therefore, I feel that this is not a fit case to grant bail to the accused," the court held.
According to the prosecution's case, Adwait allegedly took advantage of the 13-year-old minor victim's mental illness. He allegedly enticed her and took her to his house under the pretence of giving her new clothes. He then allegedly confined her in his room and sexually assaulted her. Adwait further allegedly recorded the act on his mobile phone and showed it to his friend, Sunny Kamble.
Meanwhile, Adwait had applied for bail on the grounds that he is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case. "According to him, he is a victim of circumstances. He is an IIT student. His mobile phone and laptop have been seized, and the material investigation is completed. His friend Sunny committed some mischief and falsely implicated him in the present case. He is ready to abide by the terms and conditions," reads the content of the bail application as mentioned in the order copy.
