Akku Yadav Case: When Women Hacked Off Serial Rape-Murder Accused's Privates In Court
In this week's Most Shocking Crimes, we take a look at Akku Yadav, who terrorized slums in Maharashtra's Nagpur through murder and rape. In 2004, he was lynched by his victims in the court.
In the realm of India's criminal history, certain names become synonymous with fear, brutality, and lawlessness. One such name is Akku Yadav, a notorious criminal who operated in the slums of Nagpur, Maharashtra. Yadav's reign of terror left a lasting impact on the collective memory of the region, culminating in a shocking incident that marked the end of his criminal career.
Akku Yadav was a figure that both fascinated and terrified the nation. Although never convicted, there was perhaps no crime he didn't commit. However, he was most notorious for using rape as a tool for the subjugation and exploitation of marginalised communities. The rage and feeling of vengeance was set in so deep within his victims that they hacked off his private parts on court premises during his trial.
The Akku Yadav case stands as a chilling reminder of the pervasive violence and social injustices that can plague societies. This landmark case, which unfolded in India, shed light on the vulnerability of marginalized communities and the prevailing culture of impunity. The heinous crimes committed by Akku Yadav and the subsequent trial marked a turning point in the pursuit of justice and the empowerment of oppressed voices.
Early Life And Criminal Beginnings
Akku Yadav, whose real name was Bharat Kalicharan Yadav, was born in the 1970s in a small town named Kasturba Nagar in Nagpur. Growing up in poverty, Yadav was no stranger to the harsh realities of life. As he entered his teenage years, he began engaging in petty crimes and antisocial activities. Gradually, his criminal tendencies escalated, and he ventured into more serious offences, such as murder, extortion, land-grabbing, and rape.
Akku Yadav's Reign of Terror
Yadav's notoriety reached its peak during the late 1990s and early 2000s, when he terrorized the slums of Nagpur. He operated with a gang of henchmen, instilling fear and maintaining control through a combination of brute force and intimidation. Yadav's criminal empire thrived as he gained influence and power within the local community.
However, it was his involvement in sexual assaults that earned Yadav the most infamy. Numerous women from the slums fell victim to his predatory actions, with many living in constant fear of him and his gang. Yadav's brazen acts of violence and his ability to evade justice for years further added to his aura of invincibility. He was arrested 14 times, but managed to wiggle out on every occasion.
Motive Behind Akku Yadav's Sexual Crimes
Akku Yadav's motivations for committing sexual assault and rape are complex. While specific motives can vary in individual cases, it is generally acknowledged that acts of sexual violence are rooted in power, control, and a desire to assert dominance over the victims.
In the case of Akku Yadav, who targeted women from marginalised communities such as Dalits, it is believed that his actions were driven by a combination of factors, including caste-based discrimination, a sense of entitlement, and a desire to instil fear and exert control over his victims.
Caste discrimination played a significant role in Yadav's crimes. As a member of a dominant caste, Yadav exploited his position of power and privilege to subjugate women from lower castes. The patriarchal social structure in India, combined with the prevailing caste-based hierarchies, creates an environment where marginalised women face multiple forms of oppression and are more vulnerable to sexual violence.
Yadav's acts of sexual violence also served as a tool of intimidation and control. By perpetrating such heinous crimes, he aimed to instil fear and establish dominance over the communities he targeted. Sexual violence can be used as a means to exert power and exert control over individuals and communities, reinforcing the existing power dynamics. But Yadav's actions were criminal and reprehensible, and they cannot be justified or excused under any circumstances.
Public Outrage
As news of Yadav's heinous crimes spread, public outrage grew. The victims' families, activists, and concerned citizens united in demanding justice for the atrocities committed by Yadav and his gang. Their pleas fell on deaf ears, as Yadav had seemingly managed to evade the clutches of the law through corruption and political connections.
The Infamous Court Incident
In 2004, Nagpur witnessed a dramatic turn of events that shook the nation. During a trial at the Nagpur Sessions Court, where Yadav was facing charges of rape, a group of women who had been victimized by him decided to take justice into their own hands.
On 13 August, 2004, Yadav was brought to the Nagpur District Court No. 7 between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm for the hearing of his bail plea in a rape case. As soon as he came to the court, Yadav's eyes fell on a woman. This was the same woman who was raped by Yadav. On seeing her, Yadav ridiculed her, calling her a prostitute, and threatened to rape her again. According to witnesses there, the police constables smirked at Yadav's comments.
The very next moment, a woman in the front took out her slipper and hit Yadav on the head. She told Yadav that either she will either kill him or die trying. " This prompted other women to launch a collective attack on Yadav. They rushed towards Yadav, shouting, “Akku Yadav KoChhod Do, Hamko Use Khatam Karna Hai [Leave Akku Yadav to us. We want to finish him].”
In no time, a crowd of 200–400 women descended on Yadav in the courtroom and thrashed him. He was stabbed over 70 times with a knife. The women even smeared his face with chili powder and hit him with stones. The women also threw chilli powder on the faces of the police officers who tried to shield Akku Yadav.
According to media reports, one of the victims cut off Yadav's private part. This scared the policemen beyond their wits and they fled the spot in fear. While he was being lynched, Yadav reportedly shouted: "Forgive me! I will not do it again!"
The women, who formed a circle, stabbed Yadav taking turns. His blood was splattered on the floor and walls of the court. Yadav was then 32 years old and had been committing crimes for more than a decade. Yadav's decade of crimes was brought to an end in 15 minutes that day. In the post-mortem report, it was found that Yadav's body was attacked with a knife 74 times. The women later claimed that it was their act of "self-defence".
Controversy Over The 'Justice' Being Delivered
The incident involving Akku Yadav sparked intense debate and divided public opinion. While some hailed the actions of the women as a triumph of justice against a system that had failed them, others criticized the breakdown of law and order that allowed such vigilantism to occur. The case also highlighted the deep-seated problems of gender violence and the failure of the justice system to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
Akku Yadav's life and crimes left an indelible mark on the annals of India's criminal history. The recent murders of gangsters like Atiq Ahmed in police custody and Sanjeev Maheshwari Jeeva in a Lucknow court were dark reminders of the mob "justice" meted out to Akku Yadav nearly two decades ago.
For our other stories in the Most Shocking Crimes series, click here.
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