Maharashtra: Father, his friend acquitted in teenager rape case in Thane

In the submission before the District Court here, the prosecutor told that the 17-year-old victim had eloped with her lover from the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Subsequently, the duo came to Kashimira neighbourhood of Mira-Bhayandar suburb. Trailing them, the girl's father came here, and took the victim along with her to his 42-year-old friend's house.

In the intervening night of October 30-31 of 2013, the accused duo took the victim to the nearby forest area where they allegedly raped here.

After committing this heinous act, the father is said to have killed the victim by strangulating her, the prosecutor mentioned.

Asserting that there were glaring flaws in the case, the Defense Counsel contested that it wasn't even proved that the victim was separated from her paramour.

He further said that the prosecution also failed to establish that the victim briefly stayed along with her father at residence of the second accused.

He furthur argued that there was no eyewitness who saw the accused taking the victim to the forest, he added.

After hearing the arguments, District Judge P P Jadhav noted that the prosecution has miserably failed to prove the charges against the duo.

Hence, both of them, have been acquitted from the rape, murder and the POCSO Act charges being given the benefit of the doubt.