Park Street rape: Three accused held guilty, sentencing today

The Bankshall Court on Thursday held three accused of the Park Street rape case guilty. This came almost four years after the incident took place. Two other accused are still absconding.

Additional District Sessions Judge Chiranjib Bhattacharya passed the order in camera and held Naser Khan, Ruman Khan and Sumit Bajaj guilty. The quantum of punishment will be announced on Friday.

Rumen and Naser were booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on charges of gang rape (376 2G), criminal conspiracy (120B), voluntarily causing hurt (323), criminal intimidation (506) and acts done by several persons (34). Sumit, driver of the car in which 37-year-old Suzzette Jordan was gang raped on 5 February 2012, has been booked only on charges of gang rape.

The victim was picked up in a car from in front of a night club at Park Street and subsequently gang raped. The city police had managed to arrest the three persons. But the main accused Kader Khan and Ali had “left the country”.

Family members of the victim were present in the court on Thursday. 

Peter Jordan, the victim’s father said: “My daughter is no more. She died due to  meningitis in March this year. But I am happy today as the day has ultimately come and the accused have been held guilty. I would like to thank the state government, police, judiciary and the media for helping us to win the battle.”

Relatives of the accused were also present outside the court room. But they didn’t want to comment. 

It is learnt that the counsels of the accused would move to the Calcutta High Court challenging Thursday’s order. 

The victim’s counsel said that many had raised questions on her character. Today her soul will rest in peace a the culprits have been punished.