http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_khairlanji-killings-verdict-in-june_1374276
Khairlanji killings verdict in June PTI Thursday, April 22, 2010 14:37 IST NAGPUR: A High Court bench here is over with the hearings in the Khairlanji killing case involving a Dalit family, and closed the matter for final verdict till June 15. A division bench of justice AP Lawande and Justice RC Chavan heard the case on a daily basis till yesterday and said the ruling will be pronounced on June 15. Four members of a Dalit family including housewife Surekha Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, teenaged daughter Priyanka, sons Sudhir and Roshan were brutally done to death by a village mob on September 29, 2007. Family head Bhaiyalal had managed to fled from the scene. A special court of SS Dass in Bhandara on September 24, 2008 found the eight accused guilty and awarded capital punishment to six of while two were awarded life imprisonment. Those facing death sentence include Sakru Binjawar, Ramu Dhande, Shatraghan Dhande, Vishwanath Dhande, Jagnish Mandlekar and Prabhakar Mandlekar. Gopal Binjawar and Shishupal Dhande were awarded life imprisonment. However, three other accused Mahipal Dhande, Dharmpal Dhande and Purushottam Titarmare were let off for want of evidence. The CBI filed an appeal against the accquital of all the eight accused under the provisions of Prevention of SC and ST Atrocities Act as the victims were from a Dalit family. The CBI contended that the trial court should have considered evidence of sexual abuse of Surekha and Priyanka against the accused. Defence contended that main witness Siddharth Gajbhiye was falsely implicating villagers with oblique motives.
