Vadodara: Two accused of 2019 November Navlakhi gang rape case β Kishan Mathasuriya and Jasho Solanki β have sought bail from the court citing unhygienic living conditions inside the jail despite the looming pandemic.
The duo submitted a fresh plea on Friday through their lawyer, while in October, Mathasuriya, who had filed for bail through jail officials later withdrew his application.
In their plea, the two rape-accused said that they are kept confined inside the small barrack all the time and are even forced to have food inside it amid the unhygienic conditions. They alleged that the jail authorities are not keeping their barrack clean nor sanitizing it.
Mathasuriya, who had recently fallen ill and was taken to SSG Hospital, stated in his application that he was sent back to jail without proper treatment. Despite having fever intermittently, he was not allowed to undergo Covid-19 test. The application also argued that the chargesheet has been filed and key witnesses have been examined.
Since the trial has been halted due to Covid-19 situation, the duo and their families have landed in a difficult situation. Mathasuriya has stated that his six children have been forced to beg while Solanki has argued that his elderly parents do not have any income source.
βThe pleas were submitted on Friday and the court is likely to take it up for hearing next week,β said their lawyer Alpesh Chauhan. Mathasuriya and Solanki were arrested in December last year and since December 21 have been in judicial custody.
On November 28, the two accused robbed the 14-year-old rape survivor and her friend at Navlakhi ground. Later they dragged the girl towards the mango orchards through the bushes where they took turns to rape her.