Woman asked to pay Rs 2.5 L for eating at religious ceremony

Lokmat News Network

Dharashiv: In a shocking incident that has come to light in Dharashiv, a woman and her son were dragged before a caste panchayat and asked to pay a Rs 2.50 lakh amount for eating food at a religious ceremony.

According to details, the complainant, Gayatri Shyam Chavan (35, resident of Dharashiv, currently staying at Ghatkopar, Mumbai), was at her home near the old bus depot area in Dharashiv at around 8 pm on April 6.

The accused Sagarbai Jagu Pawar, Jyoti Jyotiram Pawar, Jyotiram Jagu Pawar and Priyanka Ganesh Pawar picked a quarrel with her at that time.

The complainant's son had eaten at a religious function held at the accused's home. The accused put forward the bizarre claim that this meal angered their deity, which in turn caused their son's accident.

To settle this dispute, the accused forcibly took the mother and son to Terkheda, where a caste panchayat was convened. Before the panch members, the two were verbally abused and severely beaten with slippers. The panchayat held them guilty and imposed a fine of Rs 2.55 lakh. The accused then threatened the complainant to pay Rs 60,000 immediately, or they would kill her.

Terrified Gayatri paid Rs 60,000 and was then released. Unable to bear this ordeal any longer, she went to Dharashiv City Police Station on April 20 and lodged a complaint.

Police registered a case under Sections 308(2), 115(2), 352, 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Maharashtra Protection of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act.