Sexual assault on Russian minor: Final arguments on August 2
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 23
Children’s Court today set August 2 for final arguments in the case trial of sexual assault on a nine-year-old Russian girl, following which it will pronounce its verdict.
The prosecution led by PP Poonam Bharne submitted the ossification test of the main accused Aman Bharadwaj confirming he was between the age group of 19 and 22 years old.
Bharne earlier relied on his credentials including school leaving certificate and employers’ card that also confirmed he is above 18 years old. Following this confirmation, the Court fixed up the date to conclude the case trial, which was paused on the judgment day in May.
The issue arose when the alleged accused told the Court that he was 17 years old, a figure against his earlier statement before the police and Court that his age was 20. In his application he even said that the Court was not competent to try him, for, he was a juvenile.
He took a U-turn, ironically on the very same day when the Court was to pronounce its verdict on May 12 after the trial concluded in a record break time of three-months. This was even as all 16 prosecution witnesses were examined in the case by the court.
This had prompted the Court to hold back its judgment and to order an inquiry in his age under section 7-A of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2000. Aman was then subjected to ossification test at Goa Medical College at Bambolim in June.
Aman, hailing from Uttar Pradesh along with his accomplice Anil Raghuvanshi of Madhya Pradesh was charged with sexually assaulting the Russian minor when she was bathing in the water lake at Arambol, on January 26.
While, Aman sexually abused her, Anil played the role of diverting attention of the minor’s mother who was resting on the beach rocks closeby. The duo was arrested in Chembur and KTC bus stand respectively after a massive manhunt launched by the Goa police.
Pernem police filed a charge sheet against the pair within 14 days from the date of the incident in February. The Court granted conditional pardon to Anil and made him a state-approver in the case to disclose facts.
