Two acquitted in Chandaka gang-rape case

BHUBANESWAR: The court of additional sessions judge here on Thursday acquitted two persons accused of gang-raping a girl in Chandaka area here in July 2013. They were identified as Bikas Sethi and Ranjit Sethi. Jitendra Kumar Biswal, who was another accused in the case, had allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in the toilet of Jharpada special jail here in May this year.
Defence lawyer Chita Ranjan Das said the police had exaggerated facts in the chargesheet. "The prosecution failed to substantiate the charges against the accused. There was mismatch of statements between witnesses and victim. The forensic and medical reports could not prove that the girl was gang-raped by the accused," Das told media persons.
On July 19, 2013, the 23-year-old girl lodged a complaint with Mahila police here that Biswal, Bikas and Ranjit raped her in an isolated house in Chandaka area the day before. She was a close friend of Biswal, police said. tnn
While police arrested Biswal on July 19, 2013, Bikas and Ranjit were arrested after a few days of the alleged incident.
While the prosecution lawyer was unavailable for comment, police said they would examine the circumstances leading to the acquittal. We have not yet received the judgment copy. On receipt of the order copy, we will examine the factors that led to the acquittal of the accused, deputy commissioner of police Anup Kumar Sahoo told TOI.
Biswal s family members said he committed suicide due to severe mental agony. On May 12, he was found hanging in the jail s toilet. A week before his suicide, he had appealed to the judge in court to expedite the trial of the case. A verbal duel had ensued between him and some lawyers when he questioned the tardy progress of trial. The girl s family members refused to comment.