A court in Pune has delivered a life imprisonment sentence to a food stall operator for the horrific 2021 murder of a 13-year-old girl, a promising kabaddi player. The verdict was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge SR Salunkhe on Tuesday, bringing a measure of closure to a case that shocked the city.
The Gruesome Attack in Bibvewadi
The incident dates back to October 12, 2021, near Yash Lawns in the Bibvewadi area. The victim, a young kabaddi talent, was practicing the sport with five or six friends in an open plot when the attack occurred. The main accused, who was 23 years old at the time of the crime and a distant relative of the girl, brutally stabbed her approximately 25 times. The assault was so vicious that it nearly severed her head from her body.
He was accompanied by two minors during the attack. When one of the girl's friends tried to intervene and snatch the weapon, the accused held a gun to her head. One of the minor boys also inflicted injuries on the victim's legs using a scythe. Police investigations revealed that the girl's family had disapproved of the accused's relationship with her, which is believed to be the motive behind the crime.
Investigation, Trial, and Court's Reasoning
After the attack, the trio fled the scene, leaving behind the knife, scythe, and firearm, which were later recovered by the police. The accused and the two minors were detained the following day. The minors were referred for legal proceedings under the Juvenile Justice Act, while a chargesheet was filed against the primary adult accused.
Special Public Prosecutor Hemant Zanjad successfully proved the murder charge beyond reasonable doubt. Judge Salunkhe relied on consistent eyewitness testimonies, medical evidence, and recoveries made during the investigation. The court also considered the test identification parade (TIP) where witnesses identified the accused and his confession statement, which aligned with the eyewitness accounts.
The judge addressed the defense's concerns about witnesses, stating, "There were five eye witnesses in this case. Three have been examined and they have fully supported the prosecution's case... It is the quality and not the quantity that matters." The court further noted that the other girls present were not related to the deceased and had no reason to falsely implicate the accused.
Life Imprisonment, Not Death Penalty
While convicting the accused, the court held that the case did not fall within the "rarest of the rare" category as defined by the Supreme Court, and thus did not merit a death sentence. Consequently, the court ordered that the life imprisonment shall run from the date of the order.
Defense lawyer Yashpal Purohit indicated that they would explore legal remedies, including filing an appeal before a higher court against the conviction and life sentence. The court's detailed order underscores the strength of the evidence presented by the prosecution, leading to the conclusive verdict.
