The sessions court has been hearing a second key witness in the Kalyani Mahila Bal Seva Sanstha rape case since Monday. A deaf and mute minor, who stayed at the orphanage in Panvel for years before she was rescued in 2011, is using sign language to tell the court her horrifying tale.
The hearing is otherwise in-camera, but the court has allowed an interpreter and a counsellor to be present to understand the testimony that will continue on Thursday.
The prosecution said inmates of the orphanage suffered torture silently for years before the child welfare committee (CWC) carried out a preliminary investigation in March 2011 and found that founder of the state-sponsored institution, his family and employees had been raping and physically torturing the minors.
Police said the founders, Ramchandra Karanjule and wife Surekha, and administrator Sonali Badte were the prime accused. They said Kalyani, daughter of the founders, and orpganage employees allegedly abused mentally challenged inmates aged between 14 and 18 years. The abuse was both physical and sexual.
At least four victims are deaf and mute. In all, 10 persons have been named in the case. Surekha and Kalyani are out on bail.
