Maharashtra CM Orders Draft Law To Bar Parole For Sex Offenders

Mumbai: Amidst the outrage sparked by the rape and murder of a minor girl in Pune, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday directed officials to draft a stringent law barring parole for those accused of sexual offences. He cited that nearly 90 per cent of such crimes had been committed by repeat offenders out on temporary release.

According to sources, Fadnavis directed the law and judiciary department to draft stringent laws to ensure sexual offenders do not misuse parole.

“Fadnavis, during the cabinet meeting, expressed serious concerns over such incidents. He directed the law and judiciary department to draft stringent laws to ensure accused don’t misuse the parole provisions,” said CMO sources.

“The CM pointed out that about 80 to 90 per cent of the accused in such (sexual offence) cases are those arrested earlier for similar crimes and released on parole, during which they end up committing offences again,” sources added.

Fadnavis’ directives to law and judiciary department comes in wake of rape and murder of a four-year old girl in a Narsapur village in Bhor tehsil of Pune district allegedly by a 65-year-old man, who had a criminal record. The incident shook the entire state with demands being made for strict punishment to the accused.

According to officials, during his tenure as CM from 2014 to 2019, Fadnavis had enacted a law prohibiting the granting of parole to individuals accused of such crimes. However, it was subsequently struck down by the courts after a couple of years. Stressing the need for stricter measures to curb repeat crimes, the CM said that a law barring parole for persons accused of sexual offences should be brought back.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule met Fadnavis on Tuesday to demand strict action in the Narsapur child sexual assualt-murder case. She also raised serious concerns over rising incidents of violence against women and girls in Maharashtra.

Sule said that the CM assured her that he will personally monitor the probe into the case. “We trust the police system to take the case to its logical conclusion,” she added.

The Baramati MP also urged the government to effectively implement the Shakti Act, introduced by the Uddhav Thackeray government, for enhancing women’s safety.