My husband is innocent and the police have dragged him into this case for no reason. They told me on December 11 that they wanted my husband for questioning and took him. I was shocked when they arrested him and my brother-in-law Ithoba Mene the next day saying they killed the Britisher," weeps Nirmala Mene.
Asked whether she had ever seen Bennett, Nirmala says, "I have never seen him in my life. We are being punished for a crime which we have not committed."
Nene's mother Sonibai Maruti steps in, "I swear we have nothing to do with this case. The police are harassing us."
Financially too the Nene family has been badly hit as both the earning members are now behind bars. They are dependent on villagers for food.
"They were doing odd jobs in construction companies and making ends meet. Now we have no one. It is only our neighbours who are giving us food and we are completely dependent on them," adds Sonibai.
The police also arrested Nene's neighbours -- Raju Malusari and Ravi Dalvi -- claiming that they helped the Menes in killing Bennett.
Inspector Patil says, "I have witnesses to prove my claim. Also we have recovered the sari cloth by which these villagers strung him up on the tree. Some of the villagers are trying to protect the accused by giving wrong information."
Image: Top Nirmala Mene Bottom The family of the main accused Ramesh Mene
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