Jaipur Court Sentences Two to Death for 2022 Gang Rape and Murder
A district and sessions court in Lalsot, Dausa district, has delivered a landmark verdict, sentencing two men to death for the brutal 2022 gang rape and murder of a woman. The court ruled that the crime falls into the "rarest of rare" category, justifying capital punishment as the only appropriate sentence.
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Kalu Ram Meena and Sanju Meena were found guilty on multiple charges, including kidnapping, gang rape, and murder. The court convicted them on February 19, and after extensive arguments from both prosecution and defense, pronounced the death sentence on Friday. Additional District Judge Ritu Chaudhary presided over the case, emphasizing the severity of the crime in her ruling.
Judge Chaudhary described the act as "extremely cruel, barbaric and shocking to the collective conscience of society." She noted that the victim was a "helpless and defenceless woman who was completely overpowered by the accused." The court order stated, "The conduct of the convicts is so brutal and inhuman that no punishment less than death would meet the ends of justice."
Brutal Details of the Crime
Special Public Prosecutor Mahaveer Singh provided chilling details of the incident. "The accused abducted the victim, gang raped her inside a car, and strangled her with a scarf when she resisted and threatened to inform her family," Singh told reporters. "They later drove around with the body for hours before dumping it in a deserted well in the Tunga police station area."
The horrific event occurred on April 23, 2022. The woman's uncle filed a missing persons report the following day at the Ramgarh Pachwara police station in Dausa. Her body was recovered on April 25, leading to a thorough investigation and prosecution.
Prosecution's Strong Case
The prosecution built a robust case against the convicts, presenting 149 pieces of documentary evidence and calling 45 witnesses to testify. Singh highlighted the prosecution's stance in court, stating, "We maintained that the act by the two accused was cruel to an extent that even animals can't do it." This argument reinforced the court's decision to impose the maximum penalty.
Additional Penalties Imposed
In addition to the death penalty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the court imposed life imprisonment under other applicable sections. Both convicts were also fined as part of the comprehensive sentencing. This multi-faceted punishment underscores the gravity of their actions and serves as a stern warning against such heinous crimes.
The verdict has been widely noted as a significant step in addressing violent crimes against women in the region, reflecting the judiciary's commitment to delivering justice in cases that shock societal conscience.
