Nagpur: Additional Sessions Judge Ms H C Shende in Nagpur on Friday sentenced 58-year-old Mahesh Gopalprasad Rahangdale to five years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) after he was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault on a nine-year-old girl. His wife, Maheshwari Rahangdale (57) was also sentenced to two years of RI for criminal intimidation and failure to report the incident to the police.
The incident took place in the parking area of a residential complex in the Lakadganj area, where Rahangdale was employed as a watchman. The case dates back to April last year when Mahesh Rahangdale, working as a ‘chowkidar’ at Gayatri Towers, Wardhaman Nagar, allegedly assaulted the young girl who lived in the same building. The victim later narrated the incident to Maheshwari, who threatened her with severe consequences if she disclosed the incident to anyone. Despite the threats, the victim informed her mother, who promptly filed a complaint with the Lakadganj Police.
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Mon 20 Oct. 2024
Based on the complaint from the victim’s 42-year-old mother, a case was registered against Mahesh and Maheshwari Rahangdale under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences(POCSO) Act. Mahesh was arrested on April 16 last year, while Maheshwari was taken into custody on May 10, 2023.
Police Sub-Inspector Kiran Kursunge led the investigation, resulting in a chargesheet being filed against the couple. The court found Mahesh Rahangdale guilty under Sections 354 of the IPC and Sections 9(1)(m) and 10 of the POCSO Act, sentencing him to five years of RI and imposing a fine of Rs 9,000. In the event of non-payment of fine, he faces an additional three months of imprisonment. Similarly, Maheshwari was sentenced to two years of RI with a fine of Rs 2,000, with an additional six months of imprisonment under Section21 of the POCSO Act, if the fine is not paid.
The State was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Adv Rashmi Khaparde while Adv Gaurav Gaur served as the defence counsel
