Bombay high court sentences one to 20 years in 2011 Keenan- Ruben murder case, acquits two
One of the accused, Satish Dulgaj, died during the pendency of their appeal in the high court against the conviction
On October 20, 2011, seven friends gathered at Amboli Kitchen Bar and Restaurant in Andheri West, Mumbai, to watch a cricket match. After the match, they dined together. As the group took a bathroom break, three young men - Keenan Santosh, Ruben Fernandes, Benjamin Fernandes, and Avinash Solanki - ventured to a nearby pan shop for conversation.
A group of four individuals observed from afar. Two of them, Jitendra Rana and Satish Dulgaj, made inappropriate physical contact with a female friend and made lewd remarks towards her. Upon exiting the restaurant, Keenan confronted the men and Avinash slapped Jitendra. The quartet responded by returning and stabbing Keenan and Ruben with knives.
Sunil Both and Deepak Omprakash Piwal further assaulted Benjamin and Avinash with a cricket bat and wooden plank. Keenan succumbed to his injuries within 10-15 minutes, while Ruben passed away 10 days later. All four accused were arrested immediately following the incident. The Bombay High Court upheld Jitendra Rana's conviction for 20 years in rigorous imprisonment and acquitted Sunil Both and Deepak Omprakash Piwal of murder charges, convicting them instead for simple hurt.
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