Baramati Court Directs Pune Police to Transfer Woman to Mother's Custody in Bhigwan Case
A court in Baramati issued a significant order on Wednesday, directing the Pune Rural police to permit the 21-year-old woman involved in the Bhigwan 'abduction' case to reside with her mother and maternal uncle. This decision came after the woman recorded a fresh statement before the Baramati court through videoconference from a government shelter home earlier in the afternoon, explicitly stating her desire to stay with her mother.
Police Superintendent Confirms Implementation of Court Order
Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill provided details on the court's directive. "The court's order came in the evening. Accordingly, we are initiating steps to implement it by shifting her from the government shelter home to her mother's home," Gill stated. He further explained that earlier in the afternoon, the woman was produced before the court via videoconferencing, where she informed the court of her wish to live with her mother.
Background of the Bhigwan 'Abduction' Incident
The case originated on February 17 when the woman's mother and brother approached the Bhigwan police with a complaint. They alleged that two men threw chilli powder into their eyes and abducted the woman from the Bhigwan market using a minitruck. Notably, her marriage was scheduled for February 22, adding urgency to the situation.
Following this incident, the matter escalated as members of a political party and a right-wing organization staged protests in Bhigwan, even blocking the Pune-Solapur highway to demand action.
Woman's Clarification and Court Proceedings
In a crucial development last Friday, the woman clarified her position before the court. She stated that she had left Bhigwan voluntarily with a friend with whom she was in a relationship, asserting that it was not a case of abduction. After departing with her friend, she traveled to Mahabaleshwar, where she uploaded a video on social media. In the video, she confirmed that she had not been abducted and had gone with her friend of her own free will.
This latest court order marks a pivotal step in resolving the case, aligning with the woman's expressed wishes and bringing clarity to a situation that had sparked significant public and political attention.
