A day after a woman was heinously raped and brutalised in a tempo - similar to the Nirbhaya case - in the Kharani Road area of Saki Naka locality in Mumbai, the victim passed away after battling for 33 hours on Saturday.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the incident and the trial of the accused would be conducted before a special fast-track court.
The accused, who hails from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, has been remanded to police custody till 21 September.
“It is a serious incident and a disgrace to humanity,” Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said even as his Maha Vikas Aghadi government came under criticism from opposition BJP for increase in crime against women and children.
“The incident is sad and shocking,” said leader of opposition in Assembly Devendra Fadnavis.
The victim was allegedly raped and brutalised inside an open tempo parked off the Rashid Compound off the Chandivali Studios in the wee hours of Friday.
A watchman alerted the Mumbai Police main control room informing the police about a man beating up a woman.
Immediately, a police team was dispatched which reached the spit within 10 minutes and found the woman in a pool of blood.
“The team did not waste a moment and drove the same tempo to the Rajawadi Hospital,” Mumbai Police chief Hemant Nagrale told reporters in Mumbai.
He said that the statement of the victim could not be recorded as she remained unconscious and passed away.
He also ruled out gang-rape, saying that the CCTV footage obtained by police shows the presence of the accused only. “We have got the custody of the accused. The probe is underway. If there are any updates, we will come back,” he said.
As far as the cause and motive is concerned, he said that it would be known only after detailed investigations. “The blood-stained clothes of the accused have been seized and have been sent for investigations,” he said.
The SIT would be led by assistant commissioner of police Jyotsna Rasam, an experienced lady officer.
The accused has been booked under section 302 (murder), 376 (rape) 323 (intentional hurt), 504 (intentional assualt) and of the Indian Penal Code.
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