A district court in Pune, Maharashtra, has sentenced a 65-year-old man to death for abducting, sexually assaulting and killing a three-year-old girl.
The crime took place on May 1, triggering public protests the same day. Police arrested the accused, identified as Bheemrao Kamble, in connection with the case.
Following the outrage, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appointed Ajay Misar as special public prosecutor and directed that the trial be fast-tracked. Investigators filed the charge sheet within 15 days, listing 82 witnesses.
The court delivered its judgment 55 days after the incident, categorising the case as one of the “rarest of rare” and awarding the death sentence.
Advocate Vipul Dushing, appearing for the victim’s side, said the offence was extremely brutal and that the charge had been proved with evidence beyond doubt, which led the court to impose capital punishment.
