BHUBANESWAR: Trial into the alleged sexual assault on a Swedish woman by a priest of the Lingaraj Temple here began on Monday just a week after the crime, which is the fastest commencement of trial in a case in Odisha, according to the commissionerate police.
Kundan Mahapatra allegedly molested the 28-year-old foreigner outside the shrine on February 19. He was arrested two days later and is in judicial custody.The accused was booked under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code.
“Police submitted the chargesheet against the accused in the court of the judicial magistrate first class-1 within 96 hours (on February 23) from the date of the crime and the trial began on Monday. On the first day of trial, the foreign victim’s statement was recorded in court,” public prosecutor Bijay Barik said.
The commissionerate police said they facilitated speedy start of the trial to ensure that the foreigner is not stuck in Odisha for a long period.
“We accorded top priority to the sensitive case and completed the investigation quickly. Submission of the chargesheet in just four days and start of trial in a week from the date of the occurrence of the crime is a twin record in Odisha police. We are hopeful of a speedy conviction of the accused,” DCP Prateek Singh said.
Earlier fastest submission of chargesheets in some heinous offences in Odisha ranged from 7 to 15 days, and start of trial two to three months after the incidents.
The state crime branch appreciated the speedy start of the trial. “Such speedy response by the commissionerate police has set an example. The tourist too would repose faith in our justice delivery system,” a crime branch officer said.
Kundan Mahapatra allegedly molested the 28-year-old foreigner outside the shrine on February 19. He was arrested two days later and is in judicial custody.The accused was booked under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code.
“Police submitted the chargesheet against the accused in the court of the judicial magistrate first class-1 within 96 hours (on February 23) from the date of the crime and the trial began on Monday. On the first day of trial, the foreign victim’s statement was recorded in court,” public prosecutor Bijay Barik said.
The commissionerate police said they facilitated speedy start of the trial to ensure that the foreigner is not stuck in Odisha for a long period.
“We accorded top priority to the sensitive case and completed the investigation quickly. Submission of the chargesheet in just four days and start of trial in a week from the date of the occurrence of the crime is a twin record in Odisha police. We are hopeful of a speedy conviction of the accused,” DCP Prateek Singh said.
Earlier fastest submission of chargesheets in some heinous offences in Odisha ranged from 7 to 15 days, and start of trial two to three months after the incidents.
The state crime branch appreciated the speedy start of the trial. “Such speedy response by the commissionerate police has set an example. The tourist too would repose faith in our justice delivery system,” a crime branch officer said.