Vadodara: Five men convicted of gang-raping a 16-year-old girl during Navratri in 2024 were sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court on Monday.The court sentenced all five to rigorous imprisonment for the remainder of their natural lives and imposed a fine of Rs 1.05 lakh on each.The incident occurred in Oct 2024 when the girl was spending time with a friend at an isolated spot in the Bhayli area of the city.The five accused — Saif Ali Banjara, Ajmal Banjara, Munna Abbas Banjara, Mumtaz alias Aftab Banjara and Shahrukh Banjara — had been driving around on two motorcycles when they spotted the girl in her garba attire. They stopped and confronted the girl and her friend, threatening to call her parents.An argument followed, and when the girl began screaming for help, Saif Ali Banjara and Ajmal Banjara panicked and fled. Munna Abbas, Mumtaz alias Aftab and Shahrukh allegedly raped the girl.Police launched an immediate search and arrested all five within days of the incident. The girl subsequently identified them. Investigators filed a 6,000-page charge sheet within three weeks of the incident, which had triggered widespread outrage in the city.The court convicted the five men on Aug 20.“Taking a strict view, the court observed that such an incident occurred during a festival in which women’s empowerment is celebrated and worshipped, making the crime an insult to women. The court also praised the girl’s courage and observed that no amount of money can compensate for her suffering,” said special public prosecutor Anil Desai.The court directed the state to provide the girl Rs 10 lakh under the Gujarat Victim Compensation Scheme. The Rs 5.25 lakh fine imposed collectively on the five convicts will also be paid to her.
