The Bombay High Court has, for the third time, rejected the bail application of a 38-year-old Nashik-based advocate who was arrested for allegedly extorting money from four women. These women were reportedly raped multiple times by his brother, a self-proclaimed godman.
While rejecting the bail plea, the court observed that the advocate representing the accused had presented false facts before the court. The judge reprimanded the lawyer, which ultimately led to the advocate withdrawing the application voluntarily. This marks the second time he has withdrawn his bail plea from the High Court.
Advocate Prathamesh Gaikwad, representing the victims, stated, “On each occasion, we have strongly opposed the bail applications, arguing that the accused misused his legal knowledge to suppress justice, financially exploit the victims, and manipulate the judicial process.”
In a significant decision, Hon’ble Justice N. R. Borkar of the Bombay High Court rejected the bail plea for the third consecutive time. The court recognized the accused’s malicious attempts to delay proceedings, his role in financial exploitation, and the threat he posed to witnesses. Notably, during the hearings, it was revealed that the accused had used a portion of the extorted ₹8 lakh to purchase an iPhone 13 Pro, further exposing his abuse of power and the financial hardship inflicted on the victims. The court upheld its directive for a speedy trial, emphasizing that granting bail could lead to witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.
The prosecution’s case dates back to February 2022, when a 49-year-old woman and her three daughters were traveling by bus from Nashik to Nagpur. A stranger overheard their conversation about the mother’s distress over arranging her eldest daughter’s marriage. The stranger then introduced them to a man named Aziz Baba, claiming he was a godman capable of resolving their concerns.
The four women accompanied the stranger to meet Baba, who offered them holy water. After consuming it, they fell unconscious. Taking advantage of their condition, Baba allegedly raped all four women and recorded obscene videos of them.
When the victims regained consciousness, they realized they had been assaulted. Baba then threatened to make the videos viral if they did not comply with his demands. The women were allegedly raped multiple times over a period by the accused godman.
The ordeal did not end there. The accused reportedly coerced the victims into religious conversion. Furthermore, Baba’s brother, Advocate Jabbar Shaikh, allegedly continued to extort money from the victims by threatening to release the videos. He is accused of extorting nearly ₹8 lakh from them.
