A Pune special court awarded the death penalty to a 65-year-old man, Bhimrao Prabhakar Kamble, for the brutal rape and murder of a three-year-old girl, stating that even execution might not be adequate for the heinous crime.
Case Details
The Crime: The convict lured the toddler under the false pretext of showing her a newborn calf and giving her sweets. He then subjected her to extreme sexual violence and gagged her with her own clothes, causing her death.
The Verdict:
Special Judge SR Salunkhe classified the case as “rarest of rare,” highlighting that the cruelty of the act entirely foreclosed any possibility of a life sentence alternative.
Key Evidence:
The court relied on medical reports showing 18 distinct injuries, photographic evidence, and audio-video CCTV footage that captured the victim’s final steps and screams. Criminal Antecedents The court rejected the convict’s age as a mitigating factor, noting a severe past history of predatory behavior and a complete lack of remorse. He was previously exiled from his native village due to misconduct against local women. He faced prior accusations of assaulting a village woman and threatening his grand-niece with a weapon, though he escaped conviction due to a lack of evidence. An 84-year-old witness testified to catching him sexually abusing animals in 1996. His own family refused to defend or support him during the trial.
Judicial Observations
Judge Salunkhe noted a disturbing trend where major legislative changes, such as the introduction of the stringent POCSO Act following the Nirbhaya case, have failed to effectively deter brutal crimes against children. He referenced other national tragedies, like the Kathua and Unnao cases, to point out that society’s collective conscience continues to face severe shocks despite heavier penalties.
