Mumbai: Bombay high court on Friday closed for judgement the appeal against the 2016 conviction of four accused in the 2011 Amboli double murder tragedy, where two young men lost their lives while allegedly defending two of their women friends from eve-teasers. The victims were Keenan Santos (24) and Reuben Fernandez (29). The fatal assault had sent shock waves across the city and was followed by several campaigns seeking a safer environment for women.
A special trial women’s court had in May 2016 sentenced the convicted four—Jitesha Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival—to life imprisonment. The victims were attacked after a scuffle near a paan shop in Amboli, Andheri (W), on Oct 20, 2011. All accused were in custody since 2011.
Defence counsel also said that the trial court was not empowered to sentence the convicts to the remainder of their lives. The prosecution conceded but said HC is empowered to do so. The appeal hearing concluded before a division bench of Justice Sandesh Patil and Justice M S Karnik. The judgement date will be notified later. The duo was standing there along with some women friends when the group of men allegedly started harassing the women. That Keenan and Reuben were attacked after they protested against the harassment was proved, the trial court held. One accused died in custody pending appeal.