A special Mumbai court on Thursday sent all four accused in the Keenan-Reuben murder case to life imprisonment. The order comes five years after Keenan Santos (24) and Reuben Fernandez (29) were killed for objecting to lewd remarks made on their female friends.

While Keenan was killed on the day of the attack, Reuben succumbed to his injuries 10 days later.

The Special Women’s Court held the four accused guilty of murder, conspiracy and molestation.

On October 20, 2011, Keenan and Reuben were attacked when they tried to protect their woman companions from the group of men who were misbehaving with them. The group, after leaving, returned to the spot with over ten aides and brutally assaulted Keenan and Reuben in full public view.

While Keenan succumbed to his injuries on the same day, Reuben died ten days later.

Police arrested Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival the next day after the incident.

In October 2012, the court had framed charges against four accused for murder, conspiracy and molestation.

The Hindu reported that Valerian Santos, father of Keenan had written to the then PM Manmohan Singh after one year of the incident.

Timeline

October 21, 2011: Police arrested Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival

February 8, 2012: The case was shifted to Fast Track Court and Special Public Prosecuor Ujjwal Nikam.

March 19, 2013: Case shifted to Special Women’s court

May 5, 2016: Court sends all four accused to life sentence  

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