Pune Gang Rape Trial Commences with Survivor Recording Evidence
The long-awaited trial for the horrific gang rape and robbery that occurred at Bopdev Ghat on October 3, 2024, officially began on Friday. The proceedings, held in-camera to protect the survivor's privacy, started before additional sessions judge HM Bhosale, marking a critical step toward justice in a case that sent shockwaves across Maharashtra.
Emotional Proceedings as Survivor Testifies
The survivor, a 20-year-old event management student at the time of the attack, was visibly overcome with emotion during the morning session. However, she demonstrated remarkable resilience, recovering sufficiently to begin recording her detailed evidence in the afternoon. The court session continued until the rising of the court, with the matter scheduled to resume for further evidence on February 25.
All three accused were produced before the court through videoconferencing from Yerawada Central Jail:
- Chandrakumar Raviprasad Kanojiya, a laborer from Kadnagar in Undri
- Shoeb, also known by multiple aliases including Akhtar Jamir and Babu Shaikh, identified as the ringleader and a ragpicker from Adarshnagar
- Bapya alias Somnath Gosavi, a casual worker from Bhavaninagar Sansar in Indapur taluka
Recounting the Night of Horror
The survivor, originally from Gujarat but pursuing studies in Pune, had gone to Bopdev Ghat around 11 PM on that fateful night with a friend who was a chartered accountancy student from north Maharashtra. Approximately an hour later, near the 'Table Point' along the Yewalewadi-Saswad Road, three men approached them.
The attackers first assaulted the male friend, forcing him to remove his shirt and trouser belt, which they then used to restrain him. Subsequently, they took turns sexually assaulting the young woman before robbing her of a gold chain and rings. The brutality of the crime created widespread outrage and concern across the state.
Arrest Timeline and Legal Charges
Police investigation led to the first arrest on October 11, 2024, when Kanojiya was apprehended. Shoeb was captured in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on October 14, 2024, following an intensive manhunt. The third accused, Gosavi, managed to evade authorities for nearly six months before being arrested on April 26, 2025, at the old bus terminus in Walchandnagar near Akluj as he attempted to board a bus.
Special prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar outlined the comprehensive charges against the accused, which include multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
- Section 70(1) for gang rape
- Section 115(2) for causing hurt
- Section 126(2) for wrongful restraint
- Section 309(6) for robbery
- Section 352 for intentional insult
- Sections 351(2) and (3) for criminal intimidation
Additionally, the accused face charges under the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act, reflecting the serious nature of the offenses committed.
The commencement of this trial represents a significant milestone in a case that has highlighted concerns about public safety and the judicial process for sexual violence survivors. As the proceedings continue, all eyes remain on the Pune sessions court for developments in this deeply troubling case.
