Rarest of rare: Pune man,65, gets death penalty for sexually assaulting, killing three-year-old
The convict, Bhimrao Kamble, was found guilty under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for kidnapping, raping, and murdering the child.
PTC News Desk: A fast-track court in Pune on Monday sentenced a 65-year-old man to death for the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl.
The convict, Bhimrao Kamble, was found guilty under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for kidnapping, raping, and murdering the child.
Calling it a “rarest of the rare” case, Additional Judge S. R. Salunkhe awarded the death penalty to Kamble, who was present in court when the sentence was announced. The judge said the crime was extremely brutal and that its seriousness and motive justified the harshest punishment.
While delivering the verdict, the court noted that the evidence strongly supported the prosecution's case and clearly established aggravating circumstances against the accused.
“The offences involve grave crimes such as rape and murder committed by an accused who has a prior criminal record and a history of serious violent assaults,” the court observed while explaining the reasons for imposing the death sentence.
The court had convicted the accused on June 25, within sixty days of the crime, which took place on May 1.
“The offence was committed outrageously and involved inhuman treatment and torture of the victim. The victim was an innocent, helpless child. The murder was committed to satisfy lust, which evidences total depravity. It was a cold-blooded murder without provocation. The crime was committed so brutally that it shocks not only the judicial conscience but even the conscience of society," Judge Salunkhe noted.
Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Ajay Misar stated that the prosecution team prioritised the gravity of the offence throughout the trial.
“The case was placed for the final judgement today. The court delivered its verdict. In this judgment, the prosecution concluded that all the charges against the accused were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The court concluded that the accused was guilty under all the sections of the IPC and declared him guilty," Misar said.