PANJIM, JULY 16
The children’s Court will hear arguments on framing charges against Pednekar family on July 30, who were charged in minor maid harassment case.
Earlier, the court had issued summons to Audumbar Pednekar and his wife Menaxi and sister-in-law Rekha to remain present in the court on July 1 after police submitted their indictment.
When the matter came up for hearing today afternoon, Advocate Damodar Dhond, appearing for the Pednekar family, sought time till July 30 for hearing argument on framing charges.
The indictment was filed earlier this month, following the directives of the High Court, who had granted anticipatory bail to the Pednekar couple on August 14, 2009. The Court had directed government to continue with the investigation and later file a fresh indictment against the trio.
The Pednekar couple was today present before the Children’s Court.
It may be recalled that on July 25, last year, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), an NGO, had registered a complaint with the Porvorim police against the trio for employing a minor girl as domestic help and brutally assaulting her and subsequently Pednekar was arrested.
The girl disclosed to police that she was burnt with hot ‘steel spoon’ and beaten up by the accused.
Police after inquiry lodged a complaint and offence under sections 324 (injuring flesh of IPC) and 7C, 8(2) and 9 of Goa Children’s Act, 2003 (employing minor for domestic help) was registered against the trio.
As such Audumbar Pednekar was arrested on the same day. He was granted bail on July 27, 2009, which was challenged by the police on the basis of medical report which indicted 23 serious burnt injuries on the minor girl. While on August 1, last year the Children’s Court cancelled the bail granted to Audumbar Pednekar and also rejected the anticipatory bail plea of his wife Menaxi and Rekha and had ordered that Pednekars should be arrested.
The family then filed three separate petitions before the Bombay High Court on August 4, challenging the Children’s court order.
