Vadodara Court Convicts Five Men in 2024 Navratri Gangrape Case
· India · Indian Express, NDTV, Hindustan Times
A special POCSO court in Vadodara on 20 August 2026 handed down convictions to five men accused of gangraping a 16‑year‑old girl during Navratri celebrations on 4 October 2024. The court accepted a 6,000‑page chargesheet and 315 pieces of documentary evidence, including forensic samples of the accused’s body fluids on the victim’s garba outfit. Investigators also recovered the victim’s mobile phone, which had been thrown into the crocodile‑infested Vishwamitri River, and the case was described by prosecutors as a ‘watertight’ build‑up. District Government Pleader Anil Desai said the case was successfully proved beyond doubt and the trial concluded less than two years after the incident triggered widespread outrage. The court will decide the sentence on 25 August, following the pending hearing on the quantum of punishment.
Why it matters
The conviction provides legal closure for the victim and signals that serious crimes during festive periods are being prosecuted. It may prompt law‑enforcement agencies to enhance security during Navratri and similar events.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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