The South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Sherin Paul last evening convicted Goan model Siddesh Dashrath Juvekar on charges of raping and cheating a Navelim girl. The sentencing has been fixed for 7th September.
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 the Colva Police under Sections 376 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code on charges of rape and cheating. Siddesh Juvekar is 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 ten 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. But the victim girl by 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 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. 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