Vadodara court convicts five in 2024 Navratri gangrape of teen

On August 20, a Special POCSO court in Vadodara convicted five men for the 2024 gangrape of a 16-year-old girl during Navratri festivities. This conviction concluded a trial that lasted less than two years following the crime, which sparked widespread public outrage. District Government Pleader Anil Desai informed The Indian Express that a specialized prosecution team, including prosecutors from Surat and Vadodara, successfully proved the police case.

Desai stated that the police's scientific evidence, including body fluid samples on the victim's garba outfit, was crucial to securing the conviction. The Navratri incident occurred on October 4, 2024, and the police filed a 6,000-page chargesheet within two weeks. Senior Advocate Shailesh Patel emphasized that the accused were "unknown men" and the crime scene was secluded, lacking CCTV coverage.

The investigation was challenging due to the lack of evidence, but the district police and Crime Branch gathered vital clues. The accused stole the victim's mobile phone, which later became a key piece of evidence. The court accepted the police's deposition regarding the phone's disposal in the Vishwamitri river. The case drew attention immediately after the incident, with investigators revealing that the accused may have planned to commit the crime.

The accused were arrested and initially held in police custody, with investigators seeking an extension due to the accused's uncooperative behavior. The remand period was prolonged as the police completed medical procedures, including collecting semen samples. Public anger ensued after the accused were manhandled by lawyers, leading to a shift to a safer courtroom for vulnerable witnesses. The court will hear arguments for the sentencing on August 25.