Kolkata: Although delayed, justice was finally served after four years of a tough legal battle for Suzette Jordan, when the Kolkata session court on Thursday pronounced three of the five men accused in what came to be known as the Park Street rape case, as guilty.

Suzette Jordan, a Kolkata based woman, was gang-raped in the dead of the night on February 5, 2012. Her case was vilified by the judgment, after struggling against much social stigma, coming directly from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had accused Jordan of fabricating the case, questions over what she was doing in a club, and intimidation from the more powerful families of the rapist. Jordan, who passed away in March this year from meningoencephalitis, had made a powerful statement by shunning anonymity and revealing her identity to support other victims of sexual assault.

While two of the accused are missing, the court booked the other three under Sections 376(d), 323 and 506 of the IPC. Jordan’s family, her parents, two daughter and sister, have finally been given enough cause to celebrate, saying they were “happy” with the order and that Suzette’s soul would now rest in peace.

Reacting to the verdict, the victim’s father said: “Justice has finally been served, thanks to the efforts of the administration, judiciary, police and media. Had my daughter been alive, things would have been better.” “Her soul will now rest in peace. But in spite of the verdict in our favour, I don’t think we will celebrate Christmas or New Year,” said Suzette’s grandmother.

Forty-five witnesses were examined during the trial that ran for over two years.

Her lawyer, Anirban Guha, said that this was justice, though it came late. However, “better late than never” he told media sources. “If she had been alive today, she would have been very happy,” said Guha.
He added that Suzette’s actions made it possible for many other women to break their silence and fight legal battles over sexual assault. He called her an icon who gave courage to countless other women.

With the positive verdict, he said the state was now trying harder to catch the missing two accused. However, the family and he were aware that this was not the end of the road, as the now convicted could appeal in higher courts.

“We have fought so far and will fight again,” said Guha.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, the CM called it a “good verdict”. Meanwhile, the family of the accused said they would challenge the judgment in the high court. “It was fabricated from the word go. We will move the high court,” said Nazir Khan, brother of Kader and Naser.

The quantum of punishment is to be pronounced on Friday.