A special POCSO court in Pune has sentenced 65-year-old Bhimrao Prabhakar Kamble to death for the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl. Judge SR Salunkhe labeled the case as 'rarest of rare' due to the extreme brutality involved. The verdict was delivered less than two months after the crime occurred, following a swift investigation and trial process.
What Happened
A special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Pune has sentenced 65-year-old Bhimrao Prabhakar Kamble to death for the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl. The verdict was delivered by Judge SR Salunkhe on June 29, 2026. The court classified the case as 'rarest of rare,' emphasizing the extreme cruelty of the offense and the vulnerability of the victim. This ruling marks the conclusion of a legal process that moved quickly, with the charge sheet filed just 16 days after the crime was reported.
The Case Details
The incident took place on May 1, 2026, in Pune. According to court proceedings, the accused, who worked as a daily-wage laborer at a local temple, lured the child away from the premises with promises of food. He then took the victim to a nearby cowshed where the crime occurred. Investigators recovered audio-visual evidence and CCTV footage showing the accused leading the child toward the site and returning alone, which became a central part of the prosecution's case.
Legal Grounds For The Verdict
The court convicted Kamble under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the POCSO Act, 2012. The judge highlighted that the presence of 18 injuries on the victim's body and the accused's lack of remorse were key factors in the sentencing decision. The court observed that despite various high-profile cases involving crimes against children across the country, such incidents persist. Judge Salunkhe noted that the accused’s age and background were considered, but the severity of the crime necessitated the death penalty to protect the safety and conscience of society.
The Speed Of The Trial
A notable aspect of this case was the duration of the investigation and trial. Law enforcement agencies completed the investigation and filed the charge sheet within 16 days of the incident. The entire trial concluded in under two months. The court commended the swift legal action, reflecting a firm stance on delivering justice in cases involving heinous crimes against children. The accused's attempts to secure favorable reports from jail authorities or probation officers were unsuccessful, and the court found no mitigating factors to reduce the sentence.