A Bhopal court has delivered justice eight years after a harrowing incident, sentencing the notorious criminal Zubair Maulana and his accomplice, Shubham Rai, to three years of imprisonment. The ruling, handed down by Judge Pallavi Dwivedi, follows a 2017 case where the duo abducted and molested a professional dancer during a wedding ceremony. According to the prosecution, represented by Additional District Public Prosecutor Rajesh Singh, the victim—a resident of Bhim Nagar—was performing at a function when Maulana and his henchmen intervened.
The perpetrators held the woman hostage under the threat of death, subjecting her to obscene harassment while forcing her to dance against her will. The case, which highlighted the brazen nature of local gangs, saw a persistent legal battle that concluded with the court finding both accused guilty of abduction, criminal intimidation, and outraging the modesty of a woman. This verdict serves as a significant crackdown on habitual offenders in the region, reaffirming the judiciary’s commitment to victim safety. By holding such high-profile criminals accountable, the court has sent a clear message against the culture of intimidation and violence that had previously plagued the city’s social events.
