Esther’s killer’s appeal to be heard on June 8

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday heard the confirmation petition filed by the state to confirm the death sentence awarded to convict taxi driver, Chandrabhan Sanap, for raping and killing TCS employee Esther Anuhya on the eastern express highway under the guise of dropping her after she returned from Hyderabad in 2014. A special women’s court had pronounced the death sentence in 2015.

Meanwhile, Sanap has filed an appeal against his conviction and death sentence in the Bombay high court which is expected to be heard along with the confirmation petition on June 8.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Vijaya Tahilramani and Justice M.S. Sonak was hearing the petition on Monday when the public prosecutor informed the court that the required rectifications in the paper book had been made and some documents earlier missing had been attached and hence, the paper book had been completed and filed afresh. The paper book contains proceedings of the lower court and documents pertaining to the trial.

In 2014, when Ms Anuhya returned from Hyderabad after spending the new year with her family, she alighted at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and was headed to her hostel in Andheri. That’s when Sanap accosted her, claiming to be a taxi driver and offered her a ride for a meagre amount. After stepping out of the station however, he asked her to ride on a motorcycle which she agreed to after much hesitation.

On the way, when Ms Anuhya protested the route being taken by Sanap, he dragged her off the bike and into the bushes, hitting her on the head with a stone before raping her. He tried to destroy her body by burning it. He was arrested three months later based on CCTV footage and the evidence of a porter who identified Sanap as the man with whom he saw Ms Anuhya leaving the station.