Nashik: A special court in Jalgaon on Thursday sentenced a 25-year-old man to death for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl and the killing of her three minor siblings in 2020, describing the crime as a 'rarest of rare' case.
Court's Observations
Additional Sessions Judge S R Yadav noted that the accused had 'wiped out four minor children in a premeditated and cold-blooded, exceptionally cruel and diabolic manner. One of them was raped by him. In my view, it is a rarest of rare case. The act of the accused is unpardonable and it warrants the death penalty.'
The court ordered that the sentence be executed by hanging, subject to confirmation by the high court. Judge Yadav convicted the accused after reviewing statements from the complainant and witnesses, as well as circumstantial evidence submitted by investigating officer Additional SP Kumar Chintha.
Conviction and Sentence
The accused, aged 19 at the time of the crime, was convicted under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code on four counts and fined Rs 25,000. He was also sentenced to death under Section 376(3) (rape of a woman under 16 years) of the IPC and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, read with Section 42, and fined an additional Rs 25,000.
Details of the Crime
The incident occurred on October 14, 2020, in a village in Jalgaon district. The victims, aged between six and 14, were alone at their temporary home on a farm. Their parents, who worked for the farm owner, had gone to Madhya Pradesh to attend a relative's funeral.
The convict, a friend of one of the deceased children, had stayed overnight at their home. He raped the 13-year-old girl and then killed her along with her two brothers and a sister, all aged between six and 14, using an axe before fleeing. The crime was discovered the next day when the landlord went to check on the children and, receiving no response, opened the door to find their bodies.
The Jalgaon police registered a case under Sections 302, 376(3) of the IPC and other sections of the POCSO Act, arresting the accused on October 22, 2020.
Prosecution and Compensation
Given the severity of the crime, the state government appointed advocate Ujjwal Nikam as special public prosecutor. The prosecution examined 27 witnesses. Nikam stated, 'The accused had shown extreme brutality. The minor victims allowed the accused into their house because of their absolute faith in him. But he committed the rape and murders. Besides, there was no remorse on his part after committing the crime.'
The court has recommended suitable compensation under the Victim Compensation Scheme for the parents of the children. The convict can appeal the special court's judgment before the high court within 30 days from the date of the sentence.
Additional SP Chintha, who investigated the case, said the death penalty 'is real justice for the victims.'
