Bhiwandi: Feudal lord booked for sexual abuse

On the day midday published a report about the enslaving of dozens of tribal families in Bhiwandi taluka two FIRs were registered against Rajaram Patil a private contractor who runs a stone quarry and brick kiln with his brother Chandrakant One woman and one minor registered the FIRs against Rajaram over sexual abuse at Ganeshpuri police station on Thursday Meanwhile the 43 tribal villagers who were allegedly subjected to bonded labour by the duo received their release certificates from the tehsildar of Bhiwandi talukaOne of the complainants is a 22yearold married woman who has two children The tribal woman has alleged that she was raped by Rajaram who also trapped her into cutting grass for his cattleThe Patil brothersrsquo bungalowldquoIn August 2020 Rajaram alias Raj Kathod Patil called me for work When I reached his house he told me to cut the grass in the field to feed the cattle When I told him that my husband will do the work he replied saying that my husband is a drunkard and he often leaves the work half donerdquo the woman said in her complaint submitted late in the evening on August 25ldquoDespite my refusal he forcefully handed me over Rs 2000 cashrdquo the complainant said adding that Rajaramrsquos men visited her sometime between August 10 and 15 and told her to report for workAccused Rajaram Patil Rajaramrsquos brother Chandrakant PatilAround that month when the woman visited Rajaramrsquos residence for work she was raped at two instances ldquoI was working till late at his house one day it was around 1030 pm Rajaram threatened me that if I do not agree to his demands he will kill both my children He then raped me and threatened me again to not tell anyonerdquo the woman saidldquoWe have added sections 376 2 n commiting rape repeatedly on the same woman 504 intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace 506 criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code IPC and relevant sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Actrdquo an officer from Ganeshpuri police station saidVillagers of Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada hold up their release certificates PicsRajesh GuptaIn the second FIR of sexual assault and harassment registered at the same police station a 17yearold girl has alleged that Rajaram forced her to get naked in a room next to a gym at his house ldquoThe girl alleged that the accused also touched her inappropriately We have registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC and provisions of the POCSO Actrdquo said the officer ldquoSince both the complainants belong to a primitive tribe relevant sections of the SCST Prevention of Atrocities Act have been addedrdquo said the officerThe cases have been sent to Deputy Superintendent of Police Dilip Godbole for further investigation Rajaram has not been arrested so farLabourers releasedMeanwhile Tehsildar of Bhiwandi taluka Adhik Patil issued release certificates to all 43 members of tribal families who had been enslaved by the Patil brothers in Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada villageBhiwandi talukarsquos tehsildar Adhik Patil handed over the release certificate to one of the villagers on ThursdayldquoOn August 26 Bhiwandi tehsildar issued released certificates to all the enslaved tribals staying in Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada Now I hope the taesildar will provide immediate relief to all of themrdquo said Vivek Pandit founder of Shramjeevi Sangathana which fights for tribal rights in MaharashtraOn August 26 midday reported about the enslaving of the villagers in a frontpage story The 43 tribals come from 18 families living in substandard conditions at Bhiwandi talukarsquos Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada village ldquoI also hope that the police register an FIR against the accused for violating the Bonded Labour System Abolition Actrdquo Pandit addedWait continues for PawarsBonded labourer Kalu Pawarrsquos family members are yet to be issued a release certificate from the executive magistrate concerned said Pandit who plans to approach the Bombay High Court HC with a writ petition ldquoAlso total 24 tribals were released across the state during 2019 and 2020 They too have not been issued any release certificates nor monetary relief I will approach Bombay HC to seek immediate relief for all the 25 tribal families including Pawarrsquos from the state governmentrdquo said Pandit during a press conference on ThursdayThe release certificates issued to the tribalsPawarrsquos wife Savitra claimed that she was approached by accused Ramdas Kordersquos associate with Rs 20000 cash on July 26 to dissuade her from registering an FIR ldquoBut I rejected the offerrdquo said Savitra Pawar died by suicide on July 13 in Mokhada taluka of Palghar district He was allegedly enslaved by Korde for taking loan of R500 to buy a kafan for his 13yearold son who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in November 2020