Police file chargesheet against 19 accused

Haveri: After 58 days after the gang rape incident, the Hangal police submitted the chargesheet before the judicial magistrate first class court of Hangal on Thursday. The 873-page chargesheet details the investigation into the case. As many as 19 accused, including seven prime suspects, have been arrested in connection with the gang rape of a 26-year-old minority woman that occurred on January 8 near Nalkuru Cross in Hangal taluk. The victim has identified all the seven prime accused during a physical identification parade, and the trial is set to commence in court. According to police sources, the investigation had been completed 20 days ago, but they were waiting for pending forensic and DNA reports from the laboratory. The chargesheet includes supporting evidence nailing the roles of the accused. The investigation team claimed they had a mountain of evidence against the accused, including DNA samples, hair strands, blood samples of the accused, clothes found at the crime scene, positive outcome of test identification parade (TIP) of two accused as well as the CCTV footage identifying them in public places, a car and a bike used in the crime. The evidence against the accused would be supported by a long list of witnesses. Around 87 witnesses who would be examined by the court on a day-to-day basis have also been mentioned in the chargesheet. The list includes forensic experts, doctors, lodge staff and owner and others. The case will be transferred to the Haveri district and sessions court. C Gopal, investigation officer and additional SP, Haveri told TOI, “We have investigated the gangrape case in detail and prepared the chargesheet carefully. We have mentioned each point in the chargesheet along with reports, statements of witnesses and circumstances.” Bail plea of 6 accused rejectedInitially, the incident was reported as a moral policing case of an assault on an interfaith couple in a private lodge, but police had added IPC section 376D for gangrape after the 26-year-old woman stated under section 164 in front of the magistrate on January 11. The survivor, who was with her male companion at the time, said she was dragged to a forested area near Nalkuru Cross of Hangal and sexually assaulted by all the seven accused. Police have arrested seven prime accused - all from Akkialuru village. Later, police arrested 12 more accused who allegedly assaulted the victim and supported the prime accused commit the crime. Meanwhile, six accused had applied for bail in the district and sessions court, and their pleas were rejected.
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