As she consumed the poisonous drink that led to a huge commotion in the courtroom, the magistrate S V Parekh left the room. The woman in her early thirties was rushed to V S Hospital where her condition is said to be stable. Her father, a daily labourer and resident of Amraiwadi, said she attempted the extreme step out of frustration as the case has been making no progress at all since she was allegedly gangraped in 2007 while working in a garment store.
As per the case details, the woman was allegedly gangraped by four persons in 2007 involving employees of M J garment store located at CTM circle in Ahmedabad. There are seven accused in the case including two women who are said to be part of the conspiracy. She alleged that the main accused Mahesh Vaishnav who also happens to be the owner of the store along with three other employees of the store spiked her drink and raped on April 6, 2007.
Besides, Vaishnav the others accused she has named are Soni, Raju Takla, cutting master Mama (real name not known), Navin Koshti, Jyotsnaben alias Babhi and Sangita M Koshti.
Initially the victim narrated the incident to her mother but avoided approaching police out of societal fear.
However, her condition started deteriorating. She was admitted to V S hospital twice and was discharged as doctors couldn’t find anything serious. However, she was again admitted to the same hospital after doctors suggested for psychiatric tests.
In July, 2007 the victim attempted suicide and was taken to LG Hospital. Seeing the condition her mother approached Amraiwadi police station and also wrote a complaint to the police commissioner, however, police refused to lodge her complaint.
“After police refused to lodge our complaint we hired a private lawyer and filed a case in the court (October 2007). Since then we have been regularly visiting court but nothing has happened. The culprits are still at large. They were never arrested or were called for court appearance. On the contrary, we are being called like the accused,” said her father.
After court’s intervention, police probed the matte and filed a summary report in 2008 saying that the victim was in love with the accused. But their relationship broke and to defame Vaishnav she lodged a complaint. However, the court was not satisfied with the report and order to probe it further in July 2010.