Justice CV Bhadang of the Bombay High Court at Goa today granted conditional bail to the jailed convict Goan model Siddesh Dashrath Juvekar. Suspending the jail sentence pending the hearing of his appeal the Court has directed that Siddesh Juvekar be released on furnishing a bail bond and one or two sureties of Rs 50,000. Siddesh Juvekar who has been lodged at the Colvale Central Jail since 8th September has also been directed to deposit in Court Rs seven lakhs within two weeks and to pay the total fine of Rs 15,000 forthwith. Siddesh Juvekar has been further directed to deposit his passport in Court and not to directly or indirectly contact the victim girl or the witnesses.
The Court today passed the order after hearing Senior Advocate Surendra Desai representing the convict, Additional Public Prosecutor Pravin Faldesai for the State and Adv. Aires Rodrigues representing the victim girl. South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Sherin Paul on 8th September sentenced Siddesh Juvekar to seven years imprisonment for having raped an orphan girl from Navelim on the false promise of marrying her. The Court also sentenced him to three years imprisonment for having cheated the victim the girl to the tune of five lakhs while also directing him to pay the victim a compensation of seven lakhs. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 and Rs 5000 for the offences of rape and cheating respectively. The Court on 3rd September had convicted Siddesh Juvekar under Section 376 (rape) and Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code for being guilty of rape and cheating. Siddesh Juvekar who has been pursuing modeling as a career had represented Goa and was the first runner up at the ‘Mr. India Man Hunt’ contest held last year in Delhi by Sky Walk Entertainment. He is a close relative of Senior BJP leader Pradeep Shet. Siddesh Juvekar on 13th November 2013 was charge sheeted by then Colva Police Inspector Nilesh Rane on charges of rape and cheating. Siddesh Juvekar was accused of having repeated forcible sexual intercourse with the victim girl under the false promise of marrying her. He was further charged of cheating the victim to the tune of over Rs five lakhs by taking money from her on the false pretext of starting a business. Siddesh Juvekar was however on 4th July 2014 discharged by the then South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Vandana Tendulkar without going through the trial. The victim girl through a Criminal Writ Petition moved the High Court challenging the order discharging the accused Siddesh Juvekar. Allowing the victim’s petition Justice S.B. Shukre of the Bombay High Court at Goa on 26th February this year while quashing and setting aside the South Goa Additional District Judge’s order directed the accused Siddesh Juvekar to appear before the Margao Sessions Court and to face trial for the alleged offences. The Court had also further directed that the trial be completed within six months. Justice Shukre in his order observed that the South Goa Additional Sessions Judge had committed illegality by discharging the accused in disregard of the well settled principles of law and that such an order cannot stand the scrutiny of law. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com