A special POCSO court in Pune on Monday sentenced 65-year-old Bhimrao Kamble to death for the rape and murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Maharashtra’s Nasrapur village.
The court classified the crime as falling within the “rarest of rare” category, holding that the brutality of the offence warranted the maximum punishment under the law.
Special Judge S.R. Salunkhe ordered that the convict be “hanged till death” after finding that the prosecution had established his guilt through a strong chain of circumstantial and forensic evidence.
Court Finds Crime Exceptionally Heinous
The sentencing follows Kamble’s conviction last week by the Special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Court. During the proceedings, the court observed that the accused showed no signs of remorse or prospects for reform, making capital punishment appropriate in the circumstances.
Although Kamble denied the allegations, the court held that the evidence presented by the prosecution proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Investigation and Evidence
According to the prosecution, the child was visiting her grandmother’s home in Nasrapur during the summer vacation on May 1 when the accused allegedly lured her away by offering snacks and promising to show her a newborn calf.
Investigators said the accused took the child to a shed near a cattle barn, where she was sexually assaulted and murdered.
Pune Rural Police completed the investigation within 15 days and filed the chargesheet, following which the matter was transferred to a fast-track court.
During the trial, Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar examined 55 witnesses, including forensic experts, investigating officers, medical professionals, family members and child witnesses.
The prosecution relied on CCTV footage, DNA evidence, medical findings, post-mortem reports, potency test results and a mental fitness assessment. The court accepted these as reliable evidence supporting the conviction.
Prosecution Sought Maximum Punishment
While seeking the death penalty, the prosecution cited 12 Supreme Court judgments to argue that the case met the legal standard for the “rarest of rare” doctrine.
The prosecution also referred to the post-mortem report, which documented multiple injuries on the child’s body, and highlighted the nature of the crime as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
Public Response
The incident had triggered widespread public outrage across Maharashtra, with demands for a swift investigation and speedy justice.
Following the verdict, Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe welcomed the court’s decision, stating that the state government had handled the case with seriousness from the outset. She also stressed the need for the strictest legal action in cases involving brutal crimes against children.
A Significant Judicial Verdict
The judgment marks the conclusion of one of Maharashtra’s most closely watched child protection cases in recent months. The swift investigation, expedited trial and reliance on forensic evidence were key elements in the prosecution’s case.
The verdict also reinforces the judiciary’s approach in imposing the highest punishment in exceptional cases involving grave crimes against children, while underscoring the importance of due process and evidence-based prosecution.
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