Convict in Rape and Murder Case Sentenced to Death in Rajasthan: Parents get 4-year jail term

Agencies, Mavli (Rajasthan), November 4, 2024 : In a landmark decision today, the POCSO-2 Court in Udaipur, Rajasthan, sentenced Kamlesh, the main accused in the brutal rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl, to death. The court also sentenced Kamlesh’s parents to four years in prison each for their role in destroying evidence and helping conceal the crime.

This high profile crime  saw the POCSO Court convict Kamlesh (21) and his parents eight days ago for tampering with evidence and assisting in the crime. The defense counsel had asked for more time before the sentencing, and the judge granted the request, setting November 4 as the date for the verdict.

The case, which has received widespread media attention, saw the POCSO court convict Kamlesh (21) and his parents for tampering with evidence and aiding in the crime. The defense counsel had requested additional time for the pronouncement of the sentence, and the judge granted this request, setting November 4 as the date for the verdict.

The court on Monday found Kamlesh guilty under Sections 363, 366, 376(2)(N), and 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012. Kamlesh’s parents were convicted under Section 201 of the IPC and sentenced to four years in prison each for helping dispose of the body. Kamlesh had lured the young girl to his home with the promise of chocolate, after which he sexually assaulted her and then killed her in a brutal manner. He subsequently dismembered her body into ten parts, including her arms, legs, and torso, and disposed of the parts in a bag in an abandoned building located about 200 meters from his home.

The victim had referred to Kamlesh as ‘Bhaiya’ and even tied him a rakhi during the Raksha Bandhan festival.

On March 29, 2023, the girl’s father filed a missing person report at the Mavli police station, stating that his daughter had returned home from school at around 4 PM, then left to visit her uncle’s house but did not return. Police initiated a search with the help of a dog squad, and on April 1, 2023, the girl’s body was found in an abandoned hut. Kamlesh was arrested the same day.

Kamlesh was alone at home when the crime occurred, as his parents were not present. He was watching a pornographic movie on his mobile phone when he saw the girl passing by the fields. He called her over, promising her chocolate. When the girl screamed, Kamlesh gagged her and sexually assaulted her. After she became unconscious, he assumed she was dead.

According to the charge sheet, Kamlesh dismembered the girl’s body in the bathroom using a stone and a knife. He cut her into ten parts, including her arms, legs, and torso. He then placed the body parts in separate bags and hid them in the toilet. Kamlesh’s parents were informed of the crime the next day, and together they planned to dispose of the body. In the dead of night, Kamlesh took the bags with the body parts and disposed of them in the abandoned building.

After hearing his sentence, Kamlesh claimed he was innocent and that he had committed the crime to protect his parents. He said he would appeal the verdict in the High Court.

Following the court’s decision, the village where the victim’s family lives felt a sense of relief. Local residents expressed satisfaction that justice had been served.

Despite being sentenced to death, Kamlesh showed no remorse, while his parents were seen crying.