Karnataka - Man gets death sentence for rape, murder of 8-year-old girl

Raju Gavali 

26 September 2025, 16:36 IST

Belagavi POCSO Court awards death sentence to man in rape and murder case of 8-yr-old

Bharatesh Raosab Mirji.Credit: DH Photos

Judge C M Pushpalata heard and based on 20 witnesses, 106 documents and 22 material objects, convicted and awarded death sentence to the man. Belagavi: A POCSO Court on Friday, in Belagavi’s Raibag Taluk has convicted a man with death sentence who has raped and murdered a 8-year-old girl. In order to destroy the traces he then dumped the body in a nearby well. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 45, 000. 

According to the prosecution, the convict, Bharatesh Raosab Mirji, 28, a resident of Raibag taluk had taken the girl to his house on October, 15, 2019 while she was on her way home returning from a shop. He raped and strangulated the victim to death. He dumped the body in a well, tying it with a 20kg heavy rock to erase the evidence. The victim's mother apprised her husband about the daughter not returning home since evening. During the search, the shopkeeper informed that she had left after purchasing a chocolate. After searching she was not found and the victim's father filed a missing complaint with Kuduchi police. Sub-Inspector J S Uppar investigating the case roped in canines from Belagavi to trace the movement of the girl. With the help of her clothes at home the canines trailed to the open well. A camera used to repair borewells was alighted in the well and fingers of the victim were spotted.

Six pumps were pressed into service to remove the waters from the well and the victim's body was found. Fire and Emergency Services personnel when we were lifting the body, stone tied to her waist with a saree fell. A postmortem was conducted by Dr K S Gurudatt and the report was submitted in the court. Investigating officers Circle Police Inspectors N Mahesh and K S Hatti investigated the case and filed chargesheet in the court. Judge C M Pushpalata heard and based on 20 witnesses, 106 documents and 22 material objects, convicted and awarded death sentence to Bharatesh Mirji.

Under section 363 he was awarded seven year imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000, under section 376 he was awarded 10 years imprisonment and fined Rs 15,000, under section 201 seven years imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000 and under POCSO Act section 4 and 6, rigorous life imprisonment and fined Rs 20,000. One year imprisonment if defaulted to pay fine. All the sentences will run concurrently. The girl's father has been asked to avail compensation of Rs 10 lakh from District Legal Services Authority. Special Public Prosecutor L V Patil pleaded for the prosecution.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/belagavi-pocso-court-awards-death-sentence-to-man-in-rape-and-murder-case-of-8-yr-old-3744385

SC stays execution of death row convict in 2013 blasts case

NEW DELHI: (Sep 25) 

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the execution of an alleged Indian Mujahideen operative who was sentenced to death in connection with the 2013 Dilsukhnagar blasts that left 18 dead and 131 injured.

File photos of Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and close aide Asadullah Akhtar.

The plea filed by convict Asadullah Akhtar was heard by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria.

"There shall be stay of execution of the death sentence of the appellant," the bench said.

Source: https://www.ptinews.com/story/national/sc-stays-execution-of-death-row-convict-in-2013-blasts-case/2949531

SC questions inordinate delay in deciding mercy plea of convict in CM assassination case (Summary)

By Jhanak Sharma 25 September, 2025 12:47 AM

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the inordinate delay in deciding mercy plea in respect of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for the assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995. 

Balwant Singh Rajoana

The Supreme Court of India expressed strong concern over the long delay in deciding the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in the 1995 assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. The bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria questioned the Centre on why Rajoana’s mercy plea had not been addressed after so many years, asking pointedly why he had not been executed or otherwise dealt with, and demanding clear instructions from the government at the next hearing. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that similar convicts involved in the same attack had already been released, highlighting the prolonged delay of over 15 years and citing constitutional concerns under Article 21 (right to life). The court also noted procedural complexities and sensitivity cited by the government, including arguments that the mercy plea was submitted by a third party rather than the convict himself. The matter was listed for further hearing, with the Supreme Court emphasizing it would not continue to adjourn without definite progress on the petition.

Source: https://lawstreet.co/judiciary/sc-questions-inordinate-delay-in-deciding-mercy-plea-of-convict-in-cm-assassination-case

Cal HC commutes death penalty, sentences ‘guru’ to life term for murdering woman, daughter

Updated on: Sept 21, 2025 04:31 pm IST

Cal HC commutes death penalty, sentences ‘guru’ to life term for murdering woman, daughter

Kolkata, A man who murdered a woman and her daughter after they realised they were duped of over ₹one lakh on his false promise to cure the latter of her ailments, got his death sentence commuted by the Calcutta High Court to life imprisonment without remission for 40 years.

The man, Sunil Das alias “Gurudev”, had failed to cure the 17-year-old daughter of burn-related injuries after having taken ₹83,000 on the pretext of performing 'yagna' for the purpose. Das was found guilty of rape, murder and causing disappearance of evidence by the Rampurhat sessions court in Birbhum district in August 2023. He was sentenced to death for the May 17, 2020, murder of the two women, life sentence for the rape of the daughter, and seven years' rigorous imprisonment for causing the disappearance of evidence by the trial court.

The high court, however, found him not guilty of rape, for which he was convicted. Upholding Das' conviction for murder and disappearance of evidence, a division bench comprising justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi commuted his death penalty to life imprisonment without remission for 40 years. Considering the age of Das, who is 45 years old, as well as the fact that he "habitually engaged himself in extracting money from unsuspecting members of society on the plea of curing diseases or bestowing corporeal and incorporeal benefits as Gurubaba," the division bench also said, "The society at large requires to be protected from the appellant for a considerable length of time.

"For such reason, the imprisonment of life so awarded to the appellant shall mean imprisonment for life without remission until 40 years from the date of his arrest," the high court said in its judgment on September 18. It noted that though it was a heinous crime, it did not fall under the cut of the rarest of rare category and that the state government could not establish that the convict was beyond reform."We are not in a position to arrive at a definite finding that any punishment other than the death penalty would be insufficient and the possibility of such punishment is absolutely foreclosed," the court said.

Milon Mondal, the husband of the murdered woman, was initially arrested on the charge of the twin murders on a complaint by her sister, but the police, upon investigation, found the involvement of Das. Mondal was not charge-sheeted by the police and was not forwarded for trial for the crime. The husband had testified before the trial court that he came in contact with Das during a train journey in course of treatment of his daughter who had suffered burn injuries earlier. Das assured him of curing his daughter and took him to a doctor at Sainthia. Thereafter, he started visiting the residence of Mondal often for the purpose of performing rituals to cure her.

It was stated that Das demanded a sum of ₹1.61 lakh for performing the rituals and providing medicines to cure his daughter, out of which ₹83,000 was already paid to him between November 2019 and March 2020. The court noted that Das, who appealed before the high court against his conviction by the trial court, came to the house of Mondal with a vessel of water on May 17, 2020, and asked his wife to prepare a paste of cashew nuts, which she made and gave to the appellant. A yagna was performed by Das in a ground floor room in Mondal's residence and thereafter he offered them to eat the cashewnut paste as prasad.

It was stated that Das had mixed strong sedatives with the paste and upon eating, the mother and daughter fell asleep on the first floor, and Mondal on the ground floor. Mondal was later woken up by Das and was asked to accompany him outside to bring flowers for performing a puja, without seeing the faces of his family members, as part of the ritual to cure his daughter of the burn-related injuries that she suffered three years earlier. Mondal stated that he was informed of the death of his wife and daughter by the priest of a temple, and thereafter, he went directly to the local police station.The testimony of Mondal was corroborated by two neighbours, the court noted.

They narrated in detail what the appellant described how he perpetrated the incident during the reconstruction of the crime scene. The reconstruction by Das was videographed and was admitted in evidence before the trial court. Das was arrested two months after the crime and was sent to trial. Taking into account the poor financial background of the appellant, who has a family comprising his wife and two children, the high court commuted the death sentence awarded to Das for murder. 

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cal-hc-commutes-death-penalty-sentences-guru-to-life-term-for-murdering-woman-daughter-101758452485437-amp.html

UP man gets death sentence for raping and killing 7-year-old niece

Press Trust of India

New Delhi, UPDATED: Sep 19, 2025 13:51 IST

The court described the case as "rarest of the rare" and noted that the accused posed a threat to society.

A court in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur on Thursday awarded the death penalty to a 38-year-old man for the rape and murder of his seven-year-old niece, a government lawyer said on Friday, adding that the court also imposed a fine of Rs 13,000 on him.

The incident took place under the Imalia Sultanpur police station area in the Sitapur district in January 2019.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uttar-pradesh-man-gets-death-sentence-for-raping-and-killing-his-7-year-old-niece-2790011-2025-09-19

2008 Ahmedabad Blasts: Supreme Court Rejects Death Row Convicts’ Plea for Video Conferencing in Gujarat High Court

By Hardik Khandelwa

l5 September 2025

The Supreme Court has refused video conferencing in the Ahmedabad blasts appeals, citing grave security risks to judges and witnesses. The Court directed the Gujarat HC to ensure uninterrupted in-person arguments for defence counsel. New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has refused to allow video conferencing in the appeals connected to the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case, saying that such a step could create serious security risks for judges and witnesses. The case is being closely followed because of the large number of people sentenced to death. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma explained that giving private video conferencing access would, in practice, be no different from live streaming court proceedings. The judges said that such an arrangement could bring “grave security threats” to the judges hearing the case.

Justices MM Sundresh 

Justice Satish Chandra Sharma

The matter reached the Supreme Court after death row convicts asked that their senior counsel be allowed to argue virtually before the Gujarat High Court, where the appeals against their conviction and the confirmation of death sentences are presently being heard. Earlier, the convicts had managed to get a temporary stay on the High Court’s hearings when the Supreme Court issued notice in August. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, speaking for the State of Gujarat, strongly opposed this request. He told the Court that the trial had been one of the biggest in the country, pointing out that it dealt with 56 deaths, 246 injuries, 6,000 exhibits and nearly eight lakh pages of record, and had resulted in a 7,000-page conviction judgment.

He also stressed that since March 2025, the Gujarat High Court had been hearing the case daily before a special bench. Mehta further warned the Court that even a limited video link could expose protected witnesses and judges to danger. He said: “The technology has so developed that even if there is an official blocking somebody can still enter into the system and record everything.” On the other side, Senior Advocate Aparna Bhat, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the request was not general but specific and arose out of practical difficulties. She explained that the senior lawyer representing 23 convicts on death row was based in Mumbai and it was not possible for him to shift to Ahmedabad for hearings that lasted only an hour each day. She submitted: “This is an unusual prayer we are making because of unusual circumstances.”

The bench made it clear that the issue was not only about technology but also about the broader security environment. Justice Satish Chandra Sharma observed: “By seeking online access, counsel would be exposing these people, the judges, at an international level.” Justice Sundresh also warned that even the smallest allowance could create new risks, saying that such an order would act as a “triggering point” and might increase the threats already assessed by security agencies. The Court noted that even a controlled video link could effectively become live streaming. Justice Sharma added: “Even when a link is given it amounts to live streaming. You are exposing a judge to great threat. Just see the case he is handling.” At the same time, the bench recognised that defence lawyers should get proper opportunity to argue, especially because 23 people are facing the death penalty. Justice Sundresh assured that the balance could be achieved by in-person hearings without exposing proceedings to outside dangers. He told Aparna Bhat that the Court would also request the High Court to consider the Mumbai-based senior counsel’s difficulties. Justice Sundresh said: “Whatever happens ultimately it’ll reach here only (the Supreme Court). It’s only an appeal, it’s not a trial.”

In its order, the Supreme Court finally rejected the plea for video conferencing. However, it directed the Gujarat High Court to give the senior counsel coming from Mumbai uninterrupted time to present his arguments so that he does not have to make repeated trips. The Court also said that the convicts in jail will continue to have video access to watch the hearings, as is already being provided. The bench recorded: “As there is a perceived threat we are not inclined to consider the request made. However… we hope and trust that the division bench will make sure that the counsel who is coming from Bombay is not inconvenienced and full hearing be given to him during his argument in person before the Court.” The matter will now continue in the Gujarat High Court, which has been hearing appeals and the confirmation of death sentences since March 2025.

The case has its roots in the Ahmedabad bomb blasts of July 26, 2008, when 21 coordinated explosions ripped through the city, killing 56 people and injuring 246. The Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility. Hospitals and busy market areas were among the main targets. It turned into one of India’s largest terror prosecutions, involving nearly 80,000 documents and 1,100 witnesses. In 2022, a special court convicted 49 accused. Out of them, 38 were given the death sentence and 11 were sentenced to life imprisonment. Since then, the Gujarat High Court has been handling the appeals, which are now under the supervision of a specially constituted bench.

Case Title:

Samsuddin Alias Samsu Vs. State Of Gujarat

Madhya Pradesh High Court overturns Death Sentence in Balaghat Girls’ Murder Case

On 13 Sep 2025

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has commuted and ultimately overturned the death sentence of Girdhari Sonwane, who had been wrongly convicted for the kidnapping and murder of two young girls in Balaghat district.

On April 4, 2022, the bodies of a five-year-old and her three-year-old sister were discovered in the Kudwa canal near Rajiv Sagar Dam. Initial police investigation focused on Sonwane, the girls’ uncle, based on a witness’s claim that they were last seen with him.

A special court in Balaghat sentenced Sonwane to death on January 31, 2024. However, Sonwane challenged the verdict in the High Court. A division bench led by Justice Vivek Agrawal and Justice Avnindra Kumar Singh found the police probe marred by negligence and contradictions. Key discrepancies included inconsistent witness statements about the color of the bicycle—first described as golden, later silver—and the investigating officer’s delay in recording statements under Section 161 CrPC until after the post-mortem, which undermined the prosecution’s timeline.

The post-mortem report revealed the girls died 12–18 hours before their bodies were recovered, with partially digested food in their stomachs that remains for only one to two hours, further casting doubt on the police’s “last seen” theory. Critically, the grandmother’s on-scene testimony was omitted from the prosecution’s evidence, despite her presence during the incident.

Considering these investigation flaws, the High Court revoked Sonwane’s death sentence, ordered his immediate release, and directed the state government to pay him Rs.1 lakh compensation. In a landmark move to ensure police accountability, the court instructed the Balaghat Superintendent of Police to recover Rs.1 lakh from the investigating officer responsible for the flawed investigation.

This verdict underscores the imperative for impartial and thorough police investigations, especially in capital punishment cases, to safeguard against wrongful convictions and uphold justice.

Source: https://english.dainikjagranmpcg.com/states/madhya-pradesh/madhya-pradesh-high-court-overturns-death-sentence-in-balaghat-girls%E2%80%99/article-4850

Man gets death penalty for sexual assault, murder of minor girl in Karnataka

Naina J A DHNS Last Updated : 12 September 2025, 18:30 IST

A case was registered at the Panambur Police Station in connection with the murder. The police who investigated the case arrested him.

Mangaluru: The additional district and sessions FTSC-II (POCSO ) court has awarded death penalty to a man for sexually assaulting a minor girl and later murdering her.

Representative image showing 'death penalty' written on a plateCredit: iStock Photo

The convicted is Fakirappa Hanamappa Madara (58), a resident of Hanchinala village, Savadatti taluk, Belagavi. The minor girl, originally from Chunchanur village in Belagavi, was studying in Class 9 at the Morarji Desai Residential School, Konaje. Her mother had left her at a relative’s house before going to her native place. On August 6, 2024, the complainant (the girl’s uncle) had gone out for construction work while his wife had also gone to her native place. Between 9 am and 9:15 am, the girl was alone at home. At that time, Fakirappa, who was living in a rented house next door, entered the victim's house. He sexually assaulted the girl and later strangled her to death. After committing the crime, he fled the scene.A case was registered at the Panambur Police Station in connection with the murder. The police who investigated the case arrested him.

The case was heard in the Additional District and Sessions Court, FTSC-II (POCSO Court). Judge KS Maanu found the accused guilty and pronounced the judgement. Under BNS 103(1) (murder), the accused was sentenced to death. Under POCSO Section 4(2), he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000; in default of payment, he will undergo four months of simple imprisonment. Under BNS 332(A) (illegal trespass), he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000; in default, four months of simple imprisonment. The life sentences will run concurrently.

Out of the fine, Rs 1 lakh must be paid to the victim’s parents. In addition, the District Legal Services Authority has been directed to provide Rs 4 lakh as compensation to the parents. The case was investigated by Panambur Police Station Inspector Mohammad Saleem Abbas, who filed the chargesheet. Special Public Prosecutor Sahana Devi Boloor argued on behalf of the prosecution.

The judgement order has asked the authorities to submit the entire records pertaining to the proceedings to the High Court of Karnataka for confirmation of the sentence of death penalty.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/man-gets-death-penalty-for-sexual-assault-murder-of-minor-girl-in-karnataka-3725591

Highest degree of circumspection required before awarding death penalty: Supreme Court

Ashish Tripathi DHNS Last Updated : 11 September 2025, 15:06 IST

Apex court acquits man who was sentenced to death for sexual assault on a minor girl, resulting in her death in 2014

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has held that the trial courts, as well as High Courts, are required to exercise the highest degree of circumspection before awarding the death penalty.

It acquitted a man who was sentenced to the death penalty for sexual assault on a minor girl, resulting in her death in 2014. "The irreversible nature of capital punishment demands that it be imposed only in the 'rarest of rare' cases, as held by this court in Bachan Singh vs State of Punjab (1980), and Machhi Singh vs State of Punjab (1983), and only when the prosecution has led unimpeachable, cogent, and convincing evidence that excludes every hypothesis of innocence," a bench led by Justice Vikram Nath said.The court highlighted that even the slightest doubt or infirmity in the prosecution’s case must weigh against the imposition of such a sentence. "Any hasty or mechanical application of the death penalty, without ensuring the highest standards of proof and procedural fairness, not only undermines the rule of law but risks the gravest miscarriage of justice by extinguishing a human life irretrievably,'' the bench said. The bench also pointed out in Manoj & Ors vs State of Madhya Pradesh (2022), this court emphasised the duty of courts to consider mitigating circumstances and conduct a detailed sentence hearing before awarding the death penalty. "Therefore, unless the prosecution’s evidence forms an unbroken and reliable chain of circumstances pointing only to the guilt of the accused, the extreme penalty cannot be justified,'' the bench said.

In this case, the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta, found the prosecution failed to establish a complete and unbroken chain of circumstances, motive, last seen theory, and DNA evidence necessary to bring home the guilt.

Justice Sanjay Karol

Justice Sandeep Mehta

The court allowed Akhtar Ali, who was convicted by the trial court in Nainital of offences under Section 376A of the IPC; and Sections 16 and 17 read with Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the POCSO Act, to walk free. The bench also acquitted another accused, Prem Pal Verma, who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. On their appeal, the bench said, ''The prosecution has failed to prove motive, the last seen theory stands contradicted, and the alleged scientific evidence is marred by inconsistencies and serious loopholes. In such circumstances, it would be wholly unsafe to uphold a conviction, much less the extreme penalty of death."

The bench set aside the Uttarakhand High Court's judgment of October 18, 2019, which upheld the decision of the Special Judge (POCSO) rendered on March 11, 2016. In the 86-page judgment authored by Justice Mehta, the court stressed, "It must be borne in mind that the present case involves the imposition of the ultimate punishment of death. The law is well settled that in cases resting on circumstantial evidence, every link in the chain must be firmly and conclusively established, leaving no room for doubt. Where two views are possible, the one favourable to the accused must be adopted."

It was alleged that Ali, a dumper driver, along with Verma and a third accused, acquitted by the trial court, had on November 20, 2014 kidnapped the minor girl from a marriage function at Kathgodam and committed sexual assault on her, causing her death. In the case, the court said, the prosecution has merely alleged that the accused-appellants were driven by lust. "However, no independent or credible evidence has been adduced to substantiate such a motive. A bald assertion without corroboration cannot by itself form a safe basis for conviction,'' the court said. Secondly, the court said, the ‘last seen theory’ relied upon by the prosecution suffered from serious infirmities. The prosecution has failed to prove the proximity of time and place, so as to shift the burden onto the accused, the court said. 

'Riddled with deficiencies'

Thirdly, the court found, the scientific evidence was itself riddled with deficiencies.

"The alleged theory of DNA found on the body of the victim girl matching with the DNA of the accused-appellant Ali, is ex facie doubtful and unworthy of credence,'' the court said. The claim that Ali’s location was traced through mobile surveillance was falsified by record, as the call detail records were procured much later and no evidence existed to link the accused with the SIM numbers in question, the court said. "Likewise, the omission to examine crucial witnesses, including the subscribers of the relevant mobile numbers and most importantly Nikhil Chand, who first informed the police about the location of the dead body of the victim girl, further weakens the case of the prosecution,'' the bench said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/highest-degree-of-circumspection-required-before-awarding-death-penalty-supreme-court-3723284

UP’s Banda court gives death penalty to man for rape, murder of 3-yr-old

Updated on: Sept 08, 2025 09:17 pm IST

The convict, Sunil Nishad, 35, was also fined ₹65,000. District government counsel Vijay Bahadur Singh Parihar said the trial was completed within 58 days. The special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) court in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district on Monday sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl in June this year, terming the case “rarest of rare”.

Special Judge (POCSO) Pradeep Mishra said the brutality of the act had “shaken the collective conscience of society” and warranted the severest punishment. The convict, Sunil Nishad, 35, was also fined ₹65,000. District government counsel Vijay Bahadur Singh Parihar said the trial was completed within 58 days. The prosecution examined 11 witnesses and produced forensic and testimonial evidence that the court found conclusive.

According to the charge sheet, on June 3, 2025, Nishad lured the child to his house under the pretext of buying her a candy. He later sexually assaulted her, concealed her in an ice-box and transported her by bicycle to a forested area near Pardarhpur where she was abandoned. The child was rescued in a critical condition, admitted first to Banda district hospital and later shifted to LLR Hospital in Kanpur where she died on June 11, 2025.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/ups-banda-court-gives-death-penalty-to-man-for-rape-murder-of-3yrold-101757346467392.html

Punjab, Haryana High Court suspends death sentence of godman Rampal after 14 years

The Punjab and Haryana High Courts, put on hold the life sentences of self-styled godman Sant Rampal, who was convicted in connection with the deaths of his followers during a violent standoff with the police in 2014.

Punjab, Haryana High Court suspends death sentence of godman Rampal after 14 years

A bench comprising of Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill and Justice Deepinder Singh Nalwa observed that there are certain debatable issues particularly regarding cause of death being homicidal or not. “Even the eye-witness, who are relatives of the deceased have not supported the case of the prosecution and have rather stated that conditions of suffocation were created due to tear gas shells,” reads the court's order passed on Tuesday, September 2, reported Bar and Bench.

What happened in 2014?

The case in question dates back to 2014, when clashes broke out at Sant Rampal’s ashram in Hisar, where police had gone to arrest him. The confrontation left four women and a child dead, sparking widespread outrage at the time. Following the incident, Rampal was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 by a Special Court. The self-styled godman had later challenged the conviction before the High Court alleging that he was falsely implicated in the case. According to Bar and Bench's report, the court was told that Rampal had spent over 10 years and eight months in jail in connection with the case.

What did the court say?

While granting relief to Rampal, the court took into consideration the age of the self-styled godman and directed him not to participate in congregations. “Having regard to the fact that the applicant/appellant as on date is aged about 74 years and has undergone substantial period of sentence i.e. 10 years, 08 months & 21 days, we find it to be a fit case for suspending the sentence of the applicant/appellant during pendency of the main appeal,” the Court said in its statement, reported Bar and Bench.

More about Sant Rampal

Before proclaiming himself as a godman, Rampal Dass served as a junior engineer (JE) in Haryana’s irrigation department. In 1995, he set up Satlok Ashram of the Kabir Panthi sect. Within a short span, the godman’s followers doubled- and he went on to spread his ‘spiritual empire’ in Jhajjar and Rohtak.

Source: 

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/punjab-haryana-high-court-suspends-death-sentence-of-godman-rampal-after-14-years/ar-AA1LSF4O?cvid=40DA3BB287B94C6181E4D1495569D0B8&ocid=hpmsn

SC stays execution of death penalty in minor's rape, murder case

NEW DELHI: (Sep 4) 

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the execution of a man's (Sunil Kumar) death sentence for the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl in Gurugram seven years ago.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria was acting on the convict's plea against the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court confirming the death penalty awarded by the trial court.

Justice Vikram Nath

Justice Sandeep Mehta

Justice N. V. Anjaria

"There shall be stay of execution of the death sentence awarded to the appellant," the bench said while posting the matter after 12 weeks.

Source: https://www.ptinews.com/story/national/sc-stays-execution-of-death-penalty-in-minor-s-rape-murder-case/2885693

Uttar Pradesh (UP) man gets death penalty for rape and murder of 8‑year‑old Dalit girl

September 4, 2025

A special SC/ST court in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) on September 2, 2025 awarded the death penalty to a 50-year-old man (Mahesh alias Masua) for abducting, raping and murdering an eight-year-old Dalit girl in 2020, calling it a "rarest of rare case for its brutality".

The autopsy report revealed multiple sharp injuries to the victim's private parts, with severe damage to her uterus and internal bleeding in her kidneys and liver, which led to her death. Additional district govt counsel Subhash Chaturvedi said, "The doctor, Sonu Chaturvedi, who conducted the autopsy, also found injuries on the rectum and neck, deep bite marks on her shoulder and scratches on several parts of her body. She possibly died due to acute blood loss, as the convict, after assaulting her, strangled and left her to die in the forest at night."

On Nov 26, 2020, the Class II student was abducted while collecting firewood with a woman from her village in Mathura district. Her father filed a missing person complaint when she didn't return home that evening. Police later found her body in a forested area of Vrindavan, where she had been strangled with her own clothes.

The accused, a local villager, was arrested two days later on Nov 28. An FIR was registered under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape), 377 (intercourse against the order of nature), 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence), along with sections of the Pocso Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) and SC/ST Act (The Scheduled Castes and The Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act).

A chargesheet was filed on Jan 25, 2021, and the trial began the following month. During the trial, police presented testimonies of nine individuals, scientific evidence and autopsy findings. Investigators found the convict's skin tissues in the victim's nails, and a woman from the village testified that the man was a habitual offender who often misbehaved with girls. 

Chaturvedi said the court of additional sessions judge Brijesh Kumar rejected the convict's plea for leniency, which claimed it was his first offence. Considering the savagery of the act, the court held him guilty and ruled that "the convict be hanged by neck till death". It also imposed a fine of Rs 3,20,000 on the convict.

Source: 

https://english.nessunotocchicaino.it/archivio_news/index.php?iddocumento=60470136&mover=0

Rajasthan - Death penalty for Indian man who burnt alive wife over skin colour

3 September 2025

Geeta Pandey

BBC News, Delhi

A court in India has given the death penalty to a man for burning alive his wife over her skin colour. In her statements before her death, Lakshmi had said that her husband Kishandas "routinely taunted her for being dark skinned". District Judge Rahul Choudhary in the northern city of Udaipur explained the death penalty saying the murder fell in the category of "rarest of the rare" and it was "a crime against humanity". Kishandas's lawyer told the BBC that his client was innocent and that they would appeal against the order. Lakshmi's murder eight years back and the judgement, delivered at the weekend, have made headlines in a country where public obsession with colourism is well documented. The attack on Lakshmi took place on the night of 24 June 2017, according to the court order seen by the BBC.

Lakshmi (L); Kishandas (R)

The judgement quotes from the statements she gave before her death to the police, the doctors and an executive magistrate. Lakshmi said her husband often called her "kali" or dark skinned and body shamed her since their marriage in 2016. On the night she died, Kishandas had brought a plastic bottle with a brown liquid - he said it was a medicine to make her skin fairer. According to the statements, he applied the liquid to her body and when she complained that it smelled like acid, he set her on fire with an incense stick. When her body started burning, he poured the rest of the liquid on her and ran away.

Kishandas's parents and sister took her to hospital where she later died. "It will not be an exaggeration to say that this heart-rending brutal crime was not just against Lakshmi, but it's a crime against humanity," Judge Choudhary said in his order. Kishandas, he said, "broke her trust" and displayed "excessive cruelty in throwing the remaining liquid on her" while she burned. "It's a crime that shocks the conscience of humanity which cannot even be imagined in a healthy and civilised society," the order added. Public prosecutor Dinesh Paliwal described the order as "historic" and told the BBC he hoped it would act as "a lesson for others in society".

"A young woman in her early 20s was murdered brutally. She was someone's sister, someone's daughter, there were people who loved her. If we don't save our daughters, then who would?" he said. Mr Paliwal said he had forwarded the order to the high court for confirmation of the death sentence, but added that the convict had 30 days to appeal. Kishandas's lawyer Surendra Kumar Menariya told the BBC that Lakshmi's death had been accidental and there was no evidence against his client who had been falsely charged. The Udaipur court order has once again put the spotlight on India's unhealthy preference for fair skin. Girls and women with darker skin tones are called derogatory names and face discrimination; and skin lightening products make for big business, earning billions of dollars in profits. In matrimonial columns, skin colour is almost always emphasised and lighter-skinned brides are more in demand.

The BBC has in the past reported incidents of suicides by women who were taunted by their husbands over their "dark complexion". In recent years, campaigners have challenged the widely-held notion that fairer is better, but they say it's not easy to counter deeply entrenched prejudices. Until that changes, such discriminatory attitudes will continue to ruin lives.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyryrwwdj7o