Bombay HC acquits prime accused
in Jalgaon sex scandal
A division bench of the Bombay high court comprising Justice A A Desai and Justice Vishnu Sahay today acquitted Pandit Sakpale, prime accused in the Jalgaon sex scandal, for lack of evidence and eyewitnesses.
A special court in Pune appointed by the high court had held Sakpale guilty and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, in February 1994, a 17-year-old girl, who later agreed to testify against Sakpale, visited the politician at his residence to show him an electricity bill which had recorded excess consumption.
But Sakpale allegedly locked the house and raped her.
Five months later, the victim's mother filed a complaint with the police. But the mother herself turned hostile later.
Defence counsel Ramrao Adik said Sakpale had been falsely implicated owing to political rivalry.
UNI
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