'Society didn't let my son get away from the rapist tag'

We kept our child away from us for four years because he was named in a heinous crime He told us he had realised his mistake and would change We thought that was the end of our suffering but destiny had other plans say the parents of Akash Jadhav the juvenile accused in the 2013 gangrape case who has once again been arrested for assault and extortionShridhar and Mangal Jadhav parents of Akash Jadhav say they are being made to pay for his sins PicDatta KumbharThe 2013 gang rape at Shakti Mills had shocked the entire city including Akashs parents Shridhar and Mangal Jadhav They could not believe it when they learnt that their son Akash not even 18 at the time was one of the culprits But they knew he had done wrong and that he would have to face the punishmentMangal and Shridhar Jadhav parents of Akash Jadhav show the sketches and poems he crafted in school PicDatta KumbharI told him he had committed a mistake and he must face the law Every month I went to visit him at the borstal school in Nashik He saw us suffering and decided to give up all this He started studying and enrolled in various vocational training courses It was like a rebirth for Akash he wanted to study work reduce our daily suffering recalled his motherAlso ReadShakti Mills rapist recruited gangsters on Whatsapp in a bid to rule MumbaiThe police escort Akash Jadhav to Bhoiwada court PicAtul KambleHe was getting betterIn the youth detention centre Akash began writing poems and drawing sketches He passed with first class grades in Std X as well as in vocational courses for wiring and AC and fridge repairs He was getting better and better In fact when he returned home this July he immediately started looking for a job But society didnt let him get away from the Shakti Mill rapist tag said MangalAlso ReadFamily members of Shakti Mills juvenile rapist want him to start afreshAkashs elder sister added The day he returned he cried like baby in our arms He kept telling us I will never stray from the right path again I will protect the familys respect We thought we could finally go back to being a family againReturn to crimeBut the darker side in Akash rose again On September 23 Akash was arrested again for assault and extortion Mangal remembers how it happened clearly I was returning from Mahalaxmi with Akash after buying ration In the train he was continuously getting calls and he said his friends were calling him He came home dropped the ration bags and left I didnt object and I think that was my biggest mistake she sobbedAfter the victims filed a case against him Akash and his friends attacked them again this time with a chopper Another case was registered for attempt to murder and Akash was nabbedWhenever he called we told him to surrender He cried saying he wont be spared by the police this time He told me that the altercation had started after someone called him a rapist I had no answer I only told him to surrender If he is involved in this attack he must go to jail Mangal addedWe are all ruinedBut the Jadhav family is facing far more than the loss of their son again Akashs sister said My brother completed his sentence and his name and picture was never revealed to anyone But now everyone calls us the sister or mother or father of a rapist Is it our fault that he committed this crimeAkashs father added The landlord has told us to vacate our room Three prospective grooms rejected my daughter when someone told them about our son We dont know what will happen to Akash but what about us Should we live our entire life and die with this shameAkashs sister questioned what chance he will have of reformation if he is sent to prison with hardened criminals but Akashs parents are not interested in bailing him out Our family barely makes do on R20000 a month we cant afford legal battles We want him to stay behind bars and watch us suffer because of his deeds He must feel the pain too said his father ShridharProblem childThe family of five has led a handtomouth existence for years even with both parents working as medical carers We didnt got much time to look after our kids But our elder son and daughter did well Akash was not like that He dropped out from one school bunked classes in the next one This went on till Std VIII Then one day the cops came to our home and told us about the rape case said Akashs father Shridhar Jadhav