Mumbai Sessions court convicts man for attempt to rape

Mumbai Sessions court on Friday convicted a 47-year-old for trying to rape a young woman in broad daylight in the September 2014 but policemen patrolling nearby, who rushed to the victim's help, foiled his bid.

The judge convicted Mahadesh Kaundar under section 307 (attempt to murder), 376 (rape), 511 (attempt to commit offences) and 354 (b) (Assault or use of Criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and sentenced him to ten years of imprisonment.

It is prosecutions case that a 23-year-old woman, an MA student of psychology, was returning home on September 25, 2014 after completing her practicals. Kaundar, a resident of RCF colony in Chembur and a housekeeping contractor with the BMC was loitering near Shiv Srushti colony, a remote area to the Eastern Express highway on V N Purav Marg in Sion-Chunabhatti, attempted to rape her.

The complainant's statement to police the woman stated, "I was walking home when the accused suddenly walked ahead of me and hid behind a tree. When I reached the spot, he grabbed my throat and pushed me into the roadside bushes. He then overpowered me, got on top of me, and tried to tear my clothes."

The prosecutions case further states, "When the accused was on top of her, the victim started hitting him on his head with her cell phone. Angry, Kaundar started strangulating her. Upon hearing the woman's cries for help, our patrolling beat marshals, Vilas Darekar and Balasaheb Valunch, started looking for the source of the screams."

Upon seeing the approaching cops, the accused let go of the girl and started to flee. The police duo started following. The accused's run took him near a nullah, and in a desperate bid to escape the police, he leapt inside the 7-foot deep stream. The cops refused to give up on the chase and followed suit. Finally, the fire brigade had to be called to fish out all three.