Mumbai rape accused will be prosecuted expeditiously: Shinde

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Shinde said: "All the five accused have been arrested. Public order and police are subjects exclusively dealt with by the state."

"The government of Maharashtra will do utmost to complete the investigation in the crime and prosecute the accused under law expeditiously," he said.

Shinde said he has spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and was assured that the case would be tried in a fast track court and verdict would be announced fast.

A 22-year-old photojournalist was raped by five men in an abandoned textile mill complex in central Mumbai last week after her male colleague was beaten and tied-up.u00a0