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
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Sakaal Times
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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Date: 30th Oct 2011
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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DNA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 4th Nov 2011
Incident:
The accused are arrested and presented in Court
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).
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Date: 4th Nov 2011
Date: 4th Nov 2011
Incident:
The Mumbai court moved the four main accused into judicial custody
Description:
The four main perpetrators,
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"
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
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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:
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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.
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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.
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
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 17th April 2013
Incident:
Trial in the Keenan-Rueben case begins
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:
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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
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2016:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spoke to Mr Valerian Santos
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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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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.
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Times of India
Times of India
DNA India
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 5th May 2016
Incident:
All 4 accused- Jitendra 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
2 comments:
My thoughts on the Keenan-Reuben case timeline:
Firstly, a very good job done by Vira. It is so easy and quick to go through the entire journey of the case.
I also completely believe that justice delayed is almost pointless. It is a joke that this case is tried in a fast track court, when already such a long time has elapsed before it even reaches trial stage.
In the post, there is a mention of a lack of strong laws to address sexual violence. I think in India the main problem we have is the lack of enforcement of laws, not so much the existence of laws. Law enforcement in practice is pathetic; we have no dearth of laws, perhaps even too many - but legislation by itself is of no use.
Excellent compilation Visa..wishing the families of the victims faster justice
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