A court in Hyderabad on Tuesday convicted 7 members of notorious “Snake Gang” on charges of robbery and other offences but were acquitted of the more serious charge of rape by threatening the victim with a snake, thus earning the sobriquet of “Snake Gang”.
The Ranga Reddy district court, where the sensational case was heard, will pronounce the amount of punishment on Wednesday.
The gang members, who were involved in a series of crimes including waylaying, dacoity and extortion robberies on the city outskirts by using the snakes to terrorise the victims, were arrested in August 2014 after a 18 year old girl’s complaint that she was abducted and raped in a farmhouse near the city.
She had alleged that the gang members had barged into a farmhouse, overpowered her fiancé and raped her in his presence. The gang had allegedly looted Rs 60,000.
The police launched a crackdown against them after allegations of attempt to shield the gang created a public uproar. The controversy also led to the suspension of some police officials of Pahadishareef police station under Cyberabad police commissionerate.
“The charge of rape could not be proved against the accused as the victim could not make her statement in the court fearing social stigma,” said public prosecutor Dev Raj.
While the 7 members including the kingpin Faisal Dayani were found guilty of dacoity and other offences, one was acquitted because of lack of evidence.
After investigation of the case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the police had filed a charge sheet against the accused in the district court.
Prosecutor said that those convicted were likely to get a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment. Those convicted include a gym instructor Faisal Dayani, his friends, Khadar, Tayyab Basalam, Mohammed Parvez, Ali and Salam.