28.7.15

The Empty Chair

Source: New York Magazine 



‘I’m No Longer Afraid’: 35 Women Tell Their Stories About Being Assaulted by Bill Cosby, and the Culture That Wouldn’t Listen.



#TheEmptyChair is safe, and an invitation. Resonating #INeverAskForIt.  No excuse for sexual violence. I Never Ask For It . 

19.7.15

Keenan-Reuben Case Timeline 2011- Present


Keenan-Reuben Case Timeline 2011-Present


2011:

Date: 20th Oct 2011

Incident:

Stabbing Of Keenan and Rueben

Description:

On 20th October, 2011 Keenan and Reuben accompanied by their friends (Avinash Bali, Benjamin Fernandes, Priyanka Fernandes, Shobhita and one other) went to Amboli Bar and Restaurant. The boys had an altercation with a some drunk men outside the restaurant who were harassing the girls. As the men were leaving Avinash heard one of them saying to Reuben that he would kill him “maar dunga tum logon ko." He did not think much of it till they returned with a mob carrying sickles, knives and bamboo sticks. Benjamine pushed the girls into the restaurant. A few of them men tried to follow them in when Reuben stepped in and was stabbed. Benjamin and Avinash pulled Reuben and Keenan into the Restaurant, the men didn't follow. While Keenan died the same day, Reuben, who had sustained multiple stab injuries, succumbed on October 31, 2011.

Source: 
Sakaal Times
Aam Janata
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 20th Oct 2011

Incident:

The four main perpetrators are caught

Description:

The four accused, Jitendra Rana (25), Sunil Bote (20), Satish Dulgaj (35) and Deepak Tival (19) were arrested by the police on the night of the incident. They were put in police remand and the DN Nagar police station started investigating the case.

Source: 

Sakaal Times


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Date: 30th Oct 2011

Incident:

Politicians visit the families in of the victims as well as of the accused

Description:


Political leaders from Congress, Shiv Sena and MNS have approached the victim’s families and offered their sympathies, but are also making trips to Valmiki Nagar where the familes of the accused live, and are promising them that they too will get ‘justice’. The Valmiki Nagar slum area is supposed to be a major vote-bank for politicians.

Source: 

DNA


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Date: 29th Oct 2011

Incident:

Police visit hospital to try to interrogate Reuben 

Description:

On the 29th a few policemen got into the ICCU at around 1:30am where Reuben was admitted and attempted to interrogate him. His brother Banjamin saw the police only when they were exiting the ICCU. The police had woken Reuben who then was agitated for the rest of the night and anxious about Keenan. He did not know that Keenan had passed away. 

Source:

Aam Janata 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 31st Oct 2011

Incident:

Reuben Dies in hospital

Description:

Reuben was operated on Sunday afternoon after he had sudden massive internal bleeding from the abdomen. He remained critical in the ICU, and despite all efforts to save him, succumbed to his injuries.

Source:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 3rd Nov 2011

Incident:

Keenan’s girlfriend describes events

Description:

Priyanka Fernandes speaks about her horrifying ordeal on October 20, when she lost her boyfriend Keenan Santos and friend Reuben Fernandes, who along with their friends Avinash Solanki and Benjamin Fernandes confronted a group of men who were harassing the girls in the group. 

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 3rd Nov 2011

Incident:

Activism on Social Media

Description:

• A Facebook page was created called the “Zero Tolerance Campaign” against "eve teasing." Campaign coordinator Maitreyee Achadhat said that the page is a “forum for discussion and awareness on the issue.”

• A Facebook group for the victims was also created called “Keenan Santos” which quickly  more than 46,000 members. There was  a lot of public frustration over the lack of strong laws to counter misbehavior and harassment. 

• Sympathy tweets poured in for the victims as people demanded justice. Nikhil Chinapa, a DJ and MTV anchor, wrote, “Why can’t our legal system fast-track these cases? Isn’t it in everyone’s best interest to conduct a swift trial?”

Source: 


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Date: 4th Nov 2011

Incident:

The accused are arrested and presented in Court

Description:

Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival, were arrested under IPC sections 302 (murder), 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons) and 434 (mischief). 

Source: 

Times of India 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 4th Nov 2011

Incident:

The Mumbai court moved the four main accused into judicial custody 

Description:

The four main perpetrators, Deepak Thival, 18, Sunil Bodhe, 20, Jitendra Rane, 25, and Satish Dulhaj, 35, were sent into judicial custody on the 4th of  November, and remained there till the 18th of November.


The police extended the custody period as all the witnesses had to to identify the accused. V Bhoite, the senior police inspector of DN Nagar police station at the time said that, "Some of the witnesses are yet to identify the accused, and establish the role played by each in the crime."

Bhoite further stated that,  "We have recovered the weapons, but are yet to record statements of three more witnesses.

Totally there were nine witnesses in the case, including the friends of Santos and Reuben who were present that night, the coconut water vendor, the paan shop owner, and two waiters of the Amboli Bar and Kitchen. 
 
Bhoite added, "We also have to collect details of the existing attempt to murder charges pending against Durgas, in the Amboli police station" 

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 5th Nov 2011

Incident:

Ujjwal Nikam rumoured take on the Keenan-Reuben case

Description:

The Keenan- Reuben muder case was referred to the fast track court by Home Minister RR Patil. The police asked a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to represent the state against the accused, specifically, Ujjwal Nikam. 

Source: 

Mid Day 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 5th Nov 2011

Incident:

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra promises quick action in the case

Description:

Maharashtra chief minister Prithivraj Chavan promised strict action against those accused and even assured to have a strong law against "eve-teasing" 

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Date: 5th Nov 2011

Incident:

Police add more charges to the case

Description:

The police added two more charges to the case, Sections 509 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code — the former deals with word or gesture intended to outrage the modesty of a woman,while the latter deals with criminal intimidation.

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Date: 18th Nov 2011

Incident:

Judicial Custody of the accused Extended till December 2nd

Description:

The judicial custody of the four main accused was extended till December 2nd.

The case was extended to establish the seriousness of the crime and the move to ask for an additional 14 days of custody to make it a “watertight case”. However, only one additional day of custody was given. 


Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 9th Dec 2011

Incident:

Reuben and Keenan receive Godfrey Phillips Bravery Zone Awards 2011

Description:

Reuben Fernandez and Keenan Santos, are awarded Godfrey Phillips Bravery Zone Awards 2011. 

Source: 

Mumbai Mirror

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 16th Dec 2011

Incident:

A custody hearing was heard on the 16th of December

Description:

Reuben and Keenan's families await the custody hearing.

Source: 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012:

Date: March 2012

Incident:

Case was moved to the Fast Track Court

Description:

Following a public outcry, the case was transferred to the fast track court in Sewri in March.

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 27th April 2012

Incident:

Mumbai Police are said to frame charges against the accused

Description:

The Mumbai police are said to frame the charges but it gets postponed 


Source: 


·      CNN IBN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 19th Oct 2012

Incident:

The case progresses slowly

Description:

A year later, the case progressed very slowly. Keenan's father Valerian Santos said that since February 2012, the date for framing of charges has been assigned at least 20 times, and each time it has been postponed.

Source: 

CNN IBN 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 20th Oct 2012

Incident:

An anniversary march to remember Keenan and Reuben takes place

Description:

More than 200 people marched from Amboli church to the grave of Keenan Santos on the occasion of his first death anniversary 

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 23rd Oct 2012

Incident:

Charges are finally framed in Keenan-Reuben case

Description:

The court framed charges against the accused for murder, conspiracy and molestation

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 6th Nov 2012

Incident:

The case begins 

Description:

The trial in the Reuben and Keenan murder case began on November 6, more than a year after the murder occured. 

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 27th Dec 2012

Incident:

The first witness, Avinash Solanki deposed in court

Description:

Avinash Solanki, who is the complainant and also an eye-witness in the case, deposed in court. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013:

Date: 15th Jan 2013

Incident:

The day-to-day trial began in the fast track court on 15th Jan

Description:

The fast track court started hearing the Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez murder case trial on day-to-day basis from January 15, 2013. This took place over two months after the charges were framed against four persons by a sessions court.

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 15th Jan 2013

Incident:

Station diary and other documents presented in court 

Description:

During the previous hearing on January 15, the defense sought the station diary and other documents.

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 24th Jan 2013

Incident:

The hearing Keenan- Reuben case took place 24th January

Description:

The Sewri fast track court heard the Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez murder case trial on January 24.

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 27th Feb 2013

Incident:

The complainant appealed for the case be transferred to the 

Description:

One of the complainants in the Keenan and Reuben murder case appealed to the court to appoint a woman judge to hear the case. He pointed out that some of the key eyewitnesses of the 21 listed by the prosecution were women and would feel safer. 

Source: 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 5th March 2013

Incident: 

he case hearing was put off till March 5th, 2013. 

Description:

Avinash Solanki, one of the complainant and eye-witness in the case, deposed in the court on March 5th, 2013. 

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 19th March 2013

Incident: 

The case was moved to the Women's Court

Description:

Keenan-Reuben murder case was transferred to the women’s court presided over by judge Vrushali Joshi.

Source: 

DNA India 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 17th April 2013

Incident: 

Trial in the Keenan-Rueben case begins

Description:

·      A-year-and-a-half after Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez were killed the trial began in the women's court.

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2014:

Date: 22nd Jan 2014

Incident:

The case was heard on the 22nd of January, 2014

Description:

The case was adjourned to the 22nd of Janary, 2014 

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 14th May 2014

Incident:

The deposition of key eyewitness took place 

Description:

Avinash Bali, a key witness completed his deposition at the special women’s court.

Source: 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2nd July 2014

Incident:

A second witness identified the accused and the weapons used in crime

Description:

A second witness deposed in court. She identified the vulgar comments made by the accused and the knife used by them. 11 witnesses had testified in the court by this time.

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015:

Date: 9th Feb 2015

Incident:

Benjamin Spoke about the slowness fast track trials in the country 

Description:

Benjamin Stated, “We were expecting the fast track court to wrap up the case in a year's time. We are trying to get public opinion rolling again and it has to be bigger this time around. (Keenan and Reuben were) men who took a stand not for themselves but for others dearest to them. And they would have done it for any other innocent life as well. For too long have we patiently endured the judicial system in India, (but) now it's been too long. And it's time for us to stop having patience. Justice delayed is justice denied,''

Source: 



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 7th June 2015

Incident:

Mr. Valerien Santos spoke to DNA 

Description:

Mr Valerian Santos does an inteview with DNA about the case and judicial system in the country. 

Source: 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 10th December 2015

Incident:

Hearing takes place

Description:

Another hearing for the Keenan-Reuben Murder case takes place. 

Source: 

Spoke to Mr Valerian Santos


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2016:


Date: 12th January, 2016

Incident:


  • Valerian Santos Speaks out about the justice system in the country. 

  • A Zero Tolerance Group was formed after their murder to make sexual harassment a non-bailable offense. 

Description:



  • Valerian Santos is keen to ensure justice for Keenan and Reuben and tries to attend all the court hearings after the case was committed to a fast track court in 2012. He maintains a small notepad with important facts and dates jotted down. “The case was transferred to the fast track court in Sewri on February 8, 2012. On our appeal, the case was shifted to a woman’s court in 2014 as there were several women witnesses,” Valerian says. However he is disappointed with the speed of the legal process, saying the case is far from closure despite being “fast tracked”.  He enumerates the number of times the accused were not produced, following which the Santos and Fernandez families asked for them to be transferred to nearby jails. Valerian has also faced threats and got police protection last year which he discontinued. “The system consumes too much time and energy of the victim and the family. It’s like we are begging for justice,” he adds.
  • In addition the killing of the two youngsters led to some local youth coming together to form the Zero Tolerance Group. Its first petition was to make sexual harassment a non-bailable offense. Aditya Paul and Ankita Verma, both now regular visitors to the Santos household and working with the Zero Tolerance Group, say it was shock that led them to vow that this should be the last such incident in what has been roundly accepted as one of India’s safest cities for women.
Source: 

The Indian Express 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Date: 23rd April, 2016

Incident:

Valerian Santos has been following the case very closely. He is relieved that the verdict will be soon. He says that like his son he wants to continue the fight against street harassers. 

Description:

Their lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said, "There is direct evidence to show that the accused were eve-teasing and molesting girls. This is a pre-meditated murder as the accused had threatened them with their life and returned with weapons to attack them," 


Source: 
Times of India 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Date: 2nd May, 2016

Incident:

The verdict of the Keenan reuben case to be announced 

UPDATE: The verdict for the case has been postponed to 5th May 2016. 

Description:






The prosecutors said they had presented a water-tight case that would lead to the four men's conviction.


UPDATE: A special women's court in Mumbai that was expected to pronounce its verdict today in the Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez murder case has postponed the hearing till May 5, Thursday.  

Source: NDTV


Source: 

Times of India 


DNA India 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Date: 5th May 2016

Incident:

All 4 accusedJitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival- found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. 

Description:


Keenan’s father Valerian Santos spoke to reporters outside the court. He said “I’m happy with life imprisonment to guilty. They should live every moment thinking about Keenan-Reuben.” On Monday, Santos said he didn’t want death penalty for the convicts. “I would not ask for capital punishment because I know it’s not rarest of rare case. But I will ask for life imprisonment because I want the accused to know what Keenan and Reuben’s families are going through." 


Source: 

The Indian Express 

The Times of India 

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Researched and compiled by Vira Mistry