MBA grad gets life term for acid attack on engineering student in Gujarat

SURAT: A management graduate was sentenced to life imprisonment for launching an acid attack on a third-year engineering student who had turned down his marriage proposal in Navsari town six years ago.

The court in Navsari sentenced Shahnawaz Saiyed Khalifa, an MBA and resident of Khudvel Village of Chikhli in Navsari district, who had thrown acid on the victim when she was sitting in an auto near the Navsari bus depot on January 16, 2017. He was 23 years old then.

The victim was a resident of a village near Dharampur and she would travel in a state transport bus to reach her college in Navsari. Khalifa was pursuing an MBA in the same college where they met and became friends. After Khalifa completed his studies in 2016, he persuaded her to continue with the relationship and proposed to her for marriage. However, she refused and this infuriated him.

The FSL report proved that the substance thrown on the woman was hydrochloric acid and she suffered burn injuries near the eyes and stomach.

"Acid attack gives life-long trauma to the victims by shattering their primary identity," observed Preet Kamal Tirath Ram, third additional sessions judge.

It observed that victims undergo psychological trauma due to pain and terror during the attack, which is undoubtedly one of the most grievous crimes leaving devastating consequences. "Acid attack tends to create fear among the women as they are afraid they may fail to conform to traditional subordinate gender roles," the court observed.

She lodged a complaint with Navsari town police which booked Khalifa under IPC sections 326(a) (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid) and 506(2) and sections of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Assistant public prosecutor B G Gupta argued that such offences are grave and heinous in nature. It has given such mental trauma to the victim that she is not able to live a normal life even six years after the incident.

Khalifa's advocate VA Naik argued that he was a student at the time of the incident. He is now 29 years old and realizes the reparations of his act. As a first-time offender, the MBA, who has responsibility of his old parents, should be given a minimum sentence, Naik urged.

The court found him guilty and sentenced him life term, fined him Rs. 50,000. He was sentenced to life imprisonment also under section 3(2)(v) of SC and ST Act fined Rs. 20,000. Both sentences will run concurrently.