Pune, 29th June 2026: A special POCSO court in Pune on Monday sentenced Bhimrao Kamble to death for the rape and murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Nasrapur. Special Judge S. R. Salunkhe delivered the 137-page judgment, concluding the case within two months of the crime.
The court had convicted Kamble on June 25 and reserved its decision on sentencing. After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the court ruled that the case fell under the 'rarest of rare' category and awarded the death penalty.
The prosecution established its case through a chain of circumstantial and scientific evidence, including CCTV footage, DNA analysis, forensic laboratory reports, medical evidence, witness testimonies and material recovered during the investigation. The court observed that the evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.
Police arrested Kamble shortly after the incident following an investigation based on CCTV footage and other technical evidence. The chargesheet was filed within 16 days, and the trial was conducted on a day-to-day basis through in-camera proceedings.
Witness examinations and evidence recording were completed within 16 days, while final arguments concluded in 20 days.
Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar, assisted by advocate Prathamesh Shingne, argued that the brutality of the crime warranted the maximum punishment, citing Supreme Court judgments.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 55 witnesses, including the victim's family members, eyewitnesses, investigating officers, forensic experts, DNA analysts and medical professionals.
CCTV footage, post-mortem findings, forensic reports and other scientific evidence formed the foundation of the prosecution's case.
The investigation also established that the accused had surveyed the area before the crime. Witness statements, forensic analysis, identification procedures and seized evidence further strengthened the prosecution's case. The court noted that the chain of custody of the evidence remained intact throughout the investigation.
The defence denied the prosecution's allegations and presented its version of the events before the court. However, after examining the evidence on record, the court rejected the defence and held the accused guilty.
Kamble was convicted under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to kidnapping, rape, murder and assault, along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Security was tightened around the court premises during the pronouncement of the verdict. The victim's family welcomed the judgment, saying they believed justice had been delivered.
The case dates back to May 1, when the three-and-a-half-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Nasrapur. Police detained Kamble the same day based on CCTV footage and later formed a Special Investigation Team.
A reconstruction of the crime was conducted on May 7, the chargesheet was filed on May 16, charges were framed on May 28, and the trial began the following day. Final arguments concluded on June 20, the court convicted Kamble on June 25, and he was sentenced to death on June 29.