comScore Gujarat Court Acquits All Accused in High-Profile Naliya Gang-Rape Case

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Vibes Of India
Vibes Of India

Gujarat Court Acquits All Accused in High-Profile Naliya Gang-Rape Case 

| Updated: January 23, 2025 15:45

The Bhuj Sessions Court on Thursday acquitted eight accused in the high-profile Naliya gang rape case of 2017.

More details of the order are awaited. 

Then 24-year-old, the complainant had alleged that she was gangraped. She had also alleged forced prostitution against 10 persons, including four members of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The complainant had turned hostile during the trial. There was also a judicial probe into the incident. 

She had initially accused BJP members Shantilal Solanki, Govind Parumalani, Vasant Bhanushali, Ajit Ramwani, and others of gang rape. In 2022, she submitted an affidavit to the Gujarat High Court, stating that one of the accused, Bhanushali, had not assaulted her. This, along with her refusal to corroborate earlier claims during the trial, apparently weakened the case.

The Gujarat government had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter thoroughly. The team, supervised by Kutch (West) police and CID (Crime), arrested eight individuals, including Solanki, Parumalani, Bhanushali, Ramwani, and others, based on the victim’s complaint. 

During the investigation, police seized mobile phones and computers belonging to the accused for forensic examination and sought court approval for lie detector tests. However, the court rejected the plea after the accused refused to consent.

The complainant, in her FIR filed at the Naliya police station, alleged that she had been repeatedly raped and blackmailed into a sex racket by the accused. 

She claimed she was lured by Solanki, who offered her a job at his LPG distribution agency. Solanki, along with his associates Bharat Chauhan and Vipul Thakkar, allegedly spiked her drink and assaulted her. 

The victim said they filmed the incident and used the footage to coerce her into providing sexual services at farmhouses, hotels, and parties. She further alleged that over 35 women were similarly trapped in the racket involving approximately 65 people.

Widespread Protests 

The case resulted in uproar in Gujarat and across India. Women’s rights organisations, including the All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan, raised serious concerns about the handling of the investigation. 

The BJP suspended its implicated members and held multiple press conferences to deny involvement in the case. “We have no connection to this incident, and the accused will face legal consequences,” BJP officials repeatedly said.

The SIT, led by Kutch Border Range Inspector General A K Jadeja, made initial arrests within weeks of the FIR. “We arrested three individuals, including BJP members Basant Bhanushali, Govind Parumalani, and Ajit Ramwani, whose names were mentioned in the FIR,” Jadeja said. “We also seized electronic evidence and are investigating all possible angles.”

Kutch Border Range Inspector General A K Jadeja

Despite these efforts, complications arose during the trial. The complainant faced counter-complaints for extortion and criminal intimidation, filed by her former husband. Her father expressed fear of retribution, stating, “Due to threats and intimidation, we feel unsafe. Other women in similar situations are also unwilling to come forward.”

Keshubhai Patel, the then BJP president of Kutch district, faced allegations of revealing the victim’s identity by showing her identification card during a press conference. 

Patel denied wrongdoing, saying, “The BJP has not issued any official ID card to the victim, as claimed by some individuals.” However, social worker Henry Chako filed a complaint against him for violating the victim’s right to anonymity.

Complainant Turned Hostile

The trial saw dramatic developments, including delays in registering the FIR, allegations of political interference, and refusal by the accused to undergo scientific tests. During cross-examination, the complainant turned hostile, contradicting her initial allegations. “I stand by my statement now. I cannot confirm the accusations against some individuals,” she told the court, prompting the prosecutor to question her over three days.

Shankersinh Vaghela

Public outcry over the case led to state-wide protests, with Congress leaders disrupting assembly sessions and demanding a judicial inquiry. “This is not just a legal issue but a question of justice for our daughters,” Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela said. The opposition accused the BJP of shielding the accused and politicising the case. The BJP, in turn, dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Ruckus outside state assembly (2017)

In 2017, the then Chief Minister Vijay Rupani assured that “none of the guilty will go unpunished.” However, the judicial process faced hurdles at every stage. 

Reports indicated that the complainant and other witnesses were subjected to immense pressure. Activist Meenakshi Joshi, who investigated the case, said, “The victim’s family lived in constant fear, and several women who were similarly victimised refused to come forward.”

Over time, the case lost momentum as the accused were granted bail, and the complainant distanced herself from her initial statements. By the time the Bhuj Sessions Court delivered its verdict, the prosecution’s evidence had been largely discredited.

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