Goa court acquits two in Russian sexual assault

Panaji : Two accused involved in the sexual assault on a Russian minor have been acquitted by a Goa Court today. The duo identified as Anil Raghuvanshi and Aman Bharadwaj were released by Goa Children?s Court on ?benefit of doubt.?

The accused were chargesheeted on February 9, 2010 within 14 days of the Offense on January 26, 2010. The court framed the charges on February 18 against the pair.

While, Aman was charged under Sections 376 (rape) read with 511 (attempt to commit an offense) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 8 (2) read with Section 2 (y) (i) (grave sexual assault) of the Goa Children?s Act 2003, Anil was charged for abetment of the offence under Section 109 IPC.

Pernem police, where a case was registered had arrested the duo after a massive manhunt in Goa and neighbouring places.

Later Raghuwanshi was granted conditional pardon to disclose ?facts within his knowledge? about the case and was made a witness in the case. The pair belong are natives of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, respectively.

The state government had announced speedy case trial after drawing flak over incidents of sexual abuse of foreigners in the state. The prosecution besides moved an application before the court seeking day-to-day hearing of the case.

In course of the trial, the nine-year-old victim?s mother had testified that Anil distracted her on the Arambol shore while Aman attacked her daughter in shallow waters of Arambol beach, 45 kilometers from here.

The medical evidence had also confirmed ?penetration? with minor internal injuries.

The minor identified both the accused in the court and said that Aman tried to rape her by placing a knife to her neck before forcibly trying to have sex.