One of the convicts, Mitesh Chimanlal, of the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her seven family members, including her 3-year-old child, who was approved for early release by the Modi government, is accused of outraging a woman’s modesty while on parole in June 2020. The trial in the case is still pending.
The office of the Superintendent of Police, Dahod, had informed the district magistrate that an “offence has been registered against the said applicant/accused prisoner no.26143-Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt, re. Singwad, Ta. Singwad Dist. Dahod in Randhikpur Police St. A Part Cr.No.1121001200158/2020.I.P.C.Sections 354,504,506 (2),114 on 19/06/2022.”
It also said that a “chargesheet has been filed and currently this case is pending on the board of the Hon’ble Court.”
According to information provided by the Gujarat government to the Supreme Court, the Union ministry of home affairs allowed the early release of 11 accused in the Bilkis Bano case in August of this year, citing their “good behaviour” as a major factor in the decision.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra, one of the petitioners against the release of the convicts, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers Amit Shah and Pralhad Joshi to define “good behaviour”.
“Bilkis convict Mitesh Bhatt of molestation of a woman while on parole in 2020, trial pending u/354 IPC. This man was released by you. Achhe Din. Acche Log. Beti ko molest karna bhi apka liye “good behaviour”,” she tweeted.
Taking a jibe at the Centre’s decision, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said in a tweet, “The more you treat a woman badly, the better human you become. It seems to be the new strategy of the government of India.”
“This is the Home Ministry’s good-behavior certificate-holding man. “
The counter affidavit to pleas contesting the remission is quite bulky, the Supreme Court observed on Tuesday, and numerous judgements have been mentioned but factual facts are missing.
“I have not come across a counter affidavit where a series of judgments are quoted. A factual statement should have been made. A very bulky counter. Where is the factual statement…..?” a bench headed by Justice Ajay Rastogi observed.