Charges framed in Keenan-Reuben case
The sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday framed charges against the accused in the Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes murder case that took place last year.
While the Sewri fast track sessions court framed charges for murder, conspiracy and molestation, the accused have pleaded not guilty. Santos (24) and Fernandes (29) were attacked viciously by a group of men outside a popular eatery in Amboli on October 20 last year when they tried protecting their female friends from being eve-teased.
“The charges have been framed by the sessions court and the trial will start from November 6,” said a police official involved with the case requesting anonymity since he is not authorised to speak to the media.
The case had sparked a massive public outcry when home minister R.R. Patil had said that the case would be transferred to a fast-track court for speedy justice.
The police had then arrested a total of 17 persons, including the four prime accused Sunil Bodh, Jitendra Rana, Dipak Tival and Satish Dulhaj. An identification parade was also conducted recently in the presence of an executive magistrate where eyewitnesses recognised the assailants.
The duo had gone out dining with a friend Avinash Bali and three other female companions when Rana, who was in an inebriated state allegedly passed lewd remarks about the women. Santos pushed Rana who retracted but later returned with more than 10 men who attacked them. Rana allegedly attacked them with a knife causing Santos to die on the spot and Fernandes succumbing to his injuries a few days later.
The police had also used CCTV footage at the hotel’s entrance to identify the accused.
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