Nearly a Decade Later, Pune Court Convicts Two in Railway Station Rape Case

A sessions court in Pune has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old woman at a suburban railway station in 2016, bringing the nearly decade-old case to a close.

Additional Sessions Judge S M Tapkire convicted Sharad Murlidhar Salve, 35, and Ankitsing Ratansing Bista alias Kancha, 34, and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 each, officials said.

According to the prosecution, the survivor had travelled by train from Baramati to Talegaon railway station in Pune district in 2016. After she arrived at the station, the two accused allegedly approached her and lured her on the pretext of offering food.

The prosecution said the accused then took the woman to a tin shed in the parking area within the railway station premises, where they raped her. The incident subsequently led to a case being registered and investigated by the Pune Railway Police.

The case was investigated under the supervision of then-sub-inspector Shamshuddin Shaikh, who later submitted a chargesheet before the sessions court, initiating the trial proceedings against the accused.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by government counsel S A Kshirsagar, examined 12 witnesses and presented evidence to establish the charges. After considering the testimonies and material evidence placed before it, the court found both men guilty and awarded them life sentences.

The case highlights the importance of swift investigation and judicial proceedings in crimes against women, particularly incidents occurring in public spaces such as railway stations. The conviction also brings legal closure to the survivor after years of court proceedings.