Pune Fast-Track Court Awards Death Penalty in Nasrapur Child Murder Case
A special court in Pune has awarded the death sentence to a 65-year-old man convicted in a deeply disturbing case involving the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of a 3-year-old girl in Nasrapur village of Pune district. The judgment came within 60 days of the incident, following a fast-track trial based largely on circumstantial evidence and the prosecution’s reliance on the “last seen together” theory.
The crime occurred on May 1, 2026, when the accused, identified as Bhimrao Kamble, allegedly lured the child—who was visiting her maternal home—to a nearby cattle shed. The child later went missing, prompting an urgent search by family members. Her body was subsequently discovered inside the same shed.
The incident sparked intense public outrage across Nasrapur and surrounding areas, with residents staging protests, blocking roads, and demanding stringent punishment. Similar demonstrations were reported in other parts of Pune as anger grew over the brutality of the case.
Police acted swiftly, arresting the accused on the day of the incident. A detailed 1,200-page chargesheet was filed within 16 days, and the trial proceeded on an expedited basis. Charges were formally framed on May 28, final arguments concluded on June 20, and the verdict was pronounced on June 25, with the court finding the accused guilty.
In its ruling, the court held that the prosecution had successfully proved the accused’s involvement through circumstantial evidence, including the “last seen together” theory. It also noted the severity of the offence and the accused’s past criminal record, observing that he had been previously acquitted in two cases and had shown no signs of reform.
The court further remarked, "The accused remains a danger to society. There are no signs of repentance or reformation. He has gone beyond the scope of improvement."
Defense counsel Advocate Himmatrao Suryawanshi challenged the prosecution’s reliance on circumstantial evidence, arguing that the “last seen together” theory was not conclusively established. He also urged the court to consider the accused’s age, alleged social exclusion, and personal circumstances, contending that the case did not meet the “rarest of rare” threshold required for capital punishment. The defense sought life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.
The prosecution, led by Advocate Ajay Misar, strongly opposed this argument, emphasizing the seriousness of the offence and the vulnerability of the victim, and pressed for the maximum punishment.
Following the verdict, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule welcomed the decision and said justice had been delivered. She stated, "Finally, the victim little girl has received justice, and we all welcome this verdict. This incident was extremely tragic. It was expected that the accused would indeed receive the death penalty. We have consistently advocated the position that hearings in such cases should take place in fast-track courts, ensuring that the accused is certainly punished. Meanwhile, the investigating officers conducted the probe excellently and presented the evidence before the court. We also extend our sincere thanks to the investigation machinery for this," Sule said in a post on X.
