A court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has extended the police custody of a couple accused of abducting, raping, and murdering a 12-year-old girl in Kalyan.
The accused, Vishal Gawli and his wife Sakshi, were produced before District Judge and Additional Sessions Judge VA Patravale, marking the end of their initial police custody.
According to the police, Vishal Gawli allegedly kidnapped the minor girl from Chakki Naka area of Kalyan on December 23, with the help of his wife. He then subjected the girl to brutal rape and murder, before callously dumping her body in Bapgaon on Kalyan-Padgha road.
The victim’s body was recovered on December 24, and Sakshi Gawli was arrested the same night, while Vishal Gawli was apprehended the next day from Buldhana district.
The police sought an extension of the couple’s police custody to continue their investigation and recover crucial evidence, including a mobile phone and a bag allegedly discarded by the accused. However, the defense counsel argued that the police custody was no longer required, as the investigation had been completed. The court, however, rejected this contention and extended the police custody of the accused couple by two days.
The defense counsel also made a fervent plea to the court, requesting that the accused couple be allowed to have their relatives stay with them during police custody. This request was motivated by fears of a “Badlapur-like encounter,” but the court declined to grant this relief.
The case has sparked widespread outrage and revulsion, with local residents staging a protest outside the court. The demonstrators formed a human chain, demanding the maximum punishment for the accused couple. A significant police deployment was made to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents.
As the investigation continues, the court’s decision to extend the police custody of the accused couple is seen as a crucial step towards unraveling the truth and ensuring justice for the victim and her family.
