Man, 65, sentenced to death for 3-year-old’s rape-murder; verdict in just 60 days

MAHARASTRA,JUNE 29 : A special court in Pune has sentenced a 65-year-old man to death for raping and murdering a 3-year-old girl in Nasrapur village of Pune district. The verdict was delivered within 60 days of the crime, after the court found the accused guilty based on circumstantial evidence and the prosecution’s “last seen together” theory.

The gruesome incident took place on May 1, 2026, when the accused, identified as Bhimrao Kamble, lured the child, who was visiting her maternal home, to a nearby cattle shed and then raped and murdered her. The girl’s family members began searching for her after she went missing, and her body was later found inside the cattle shed.

The incident triggered widespread anger in the area, with residents staging protests and blocking roads in Nasrapur. Demonstrations were also held in other areas of Pune, with locals demanding the strictest punishment for the accused.

The case was heard on a fast-track basis. Police arrested the accused on the day of the incident and submitted a 1,200-page chargesheet within 16 days. The special court framed charges on May 28, and final arguments concluded on June 20. The court pronounced its verdict on June 25, holding the accused guilty.

In its order, the court said the prosecution had successfully established the accused’s involvement through the “last seen together” theory and strong circumstantial evidence.

The court observed that the crime was extremely serious and noted that the accused had previously been acquitted in two cases but had shown no signs of reform or remorse.

“The accused remains a danger to society. There are no signs of repentance or reformation. He has gone beyond the scope of improvement,” the court remarked.

Advocate Himmatrao Suryawanshi, who represented the accused, argued that there was no conclusive evidence to establish the “last seen together” theory. He urged the court to consider the accused’s age, alleged social isolation by his family and villagers, and argued that the case did not qualify as the “rarest of rare” category required for awarding the death penalty.

The defence sought life imprisonment instead of capital punishment.

The prosecution, led by Advocate Ajay Misar, presented evidence against the accused and sought the maximum punishment, citing the nature of the crime and the age of the victim.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule welcomed the court verdict, saying that the victim and her family have received justice.

“Finally, the victim little girl has received justice, and we all welcome this verdict. This incident was extremely tragic. It was expected that the accused would indeed receive the death penalty. We have consistently advocated the position that hearings in such cases should take place in fast-track courts, ensuring that the accused is certainly punished. Meanwhile, the investigating officers conducted the probe excellently and presented the evidence before the court. We also extend our sincere thanks to the investigation machinery for this,” Sule said in a post on X.

-PTI