A special fast-track court in Pune has sentenced 65-year-old Bhimrao Khamle to death for the heinous rape and murder of a 3.5-year-old girl in Nasrapur village, finding him guilty of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a minor under the BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The court deemed the crime to be of the ‘rarest of the rare’ category, citing the brutal nature of the assault which resulted in 18 injuries on the victim and a motive rooted in lust, warranting the death penalty. The swift investigation led to chargesheet filing within 15 days, a trial within 60 days, and the examination of 55 witnesses, including forensic experts and child witnesses. The judge noted the accused's depravity, lack of repentance, and the inhumane treatment of the innocent victim, concluding that the death sentence was the only appropriate punishment, despite the accused maintaining his innocence.

A special fast-track court in Pune has sentenced 65-year-old Bhimrao Khamle to death for the heinous rape and murder of a 3.5-year-old girl in Nasrapur village, finding him guilty of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a minor under the BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The court deemed the crime to be of the ‘rarest of the rare’ category, citing the brutal nature of the assault which resulted in 18 injuries on the victim and a motive rooted in lust, warranting the death penalty. The swift investigation led to chargesheet filing within 15 days, a trial within 60 days, and the examination of 55 witnesses, including forensic experts and child witnesses. The judge noted the accused's depravity, lack of repentance, and the inhumane treatment of the innocent victim, concluding that the death sentence was the only appropriate punishment, despite the accused maintaining his innocence.

A special fast-track court in Pune has sentenced 65-year-old Bhimrao Khamle to death for the heinous rape and murder of a 3.5-year-old girl in Nasrapur village, finding him guilty of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a minor under the BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The court deemed the crime to be of the ‘rarest of the rare’ category, citing the brutal nature of the assault which resulted in 18 injuries on the victim and a motive rooted in lust, warranting the death penalty. The swift investigation led to chargesheet filing within 15 days, a trial within 60 days, and the examination of 55 witnesses, including forensic experts and child witnesses. The judge noted the accused's depravity, lack of repentance, and the inhumane treatment of the innocent victim, concluding that the death sentence was the only appropriate punishment, despite the accused maintaining his innocence.

A special fast-track court in Pune has convicted a 65-year-old man and sentenced him to death for the rape and murder of a 3.5-year-old girl in Nasrapur village.

Bhimrao Khamle was found guilty under various sections of the BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for Kidnapping, raping and murdering a minor.

Additional Judge S R Salunkhe sentenced Bhimrao Kamble, who was present in the witness box.  The court observed that the nature of the offence was heinous, falling under the ‘rarest of the rare’ and held that the motive of the crime warranted the death penalty.

Who is Bhimrao Khamble, and what was he convicted of

Bhimrao Khamble was accused of luring and abducting a three and a half year old girl who was visiting her grandmother in Nasrapur on May 1 between 3 pm and 4 pm. He promised her snacks and a newborn calf and then took the child to a shed where he sexually assaulted her and murdered her.

The incident sparked widespread outrage.

The case was unusual as the chargesheet was filed within 15 days and sent to a fast-track trial. Special prosecutor Ajay Misar examined 55 witnesses, including forensic experts, investigating officers, family members, and child witnesses who identified the accused during a test identification parade.

The evidence demonstrated the victims’ young age and the prolonged nature of the assault. The autopsy reports showed that about 18 injuries were found on the child’s body.

the 65-year-old also had an alleged criminal history. He had previously been involved in offences concerning a 62-year-old woman, a 17-year-old girl, and an animal.

The court convicted the accused within 60 days of the crime,

Judge Salunkhe noted, “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."

Despite the conviction, the accused maintained that he had not committed the offence.

"The accused showed no signs of repentance or potential for reformation. The only appropriate sentence is death,"  the court had observed before the sentencing on June 29.

TAGS