Kopardi rape and murder case: All three convicts sentenced to death

A sessions court in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra on Wednesday announced death sentenced to all three convicts in the Kopardi rape and murder case.

The three convicts are  - Jitendra Babulal Shinde, Santosh Gorakh Bhawal and Nitin Gopinath Bhailum.

The court presided by judge SK Keole delivered the judgment in just 10 minutes. However, none of the defense lawyers were present in the court.

After the verdict, the mother of the victim broke down completely outside the court, and thanked everyone who made the case reach its end.

Welcoming the Verdict, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "No one ever would dare to commit such a crime in this state anymore after this verdict."

The Chief Minister also thanked Ujjwal Nikam and investigating agencies for their work. "With the capital punishment, wish of lakhs of mothers and sisters in the state has been fulfilled and with this verdict faith of common people in the judiciary is going to increase."

This case had shaken whole Maharashtra and that is why state Government engaged Advocate Ujjwal Nikam for fighting the case and he ensured the guilty are punished, Fadnavis said.

He said that the case has been brought to the conclusion in record time and state government had decided to ask Ujjwal Nikam for this case to expedite the case in record speed.

The 15-year-old victim was raped on July 13 at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district, by the trio, who also inflicted injuries all over her body and broke her limbs before throttling her

Bhawal's lawyer Balasaheb Khopade had pleaded that Bhawal may not be given the capital punishment.

However, special public prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam argued that this was a 'rarest of the rare case' and hence the tree convicts should be awarded the death sentence.

On October 7, Ahmednagar police filed the charge sheet running into over 350 pages before a sessions court in the district in which the trio were charged under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The Kopardi incident proved to be the trigger for the silent marches (mook morchas) taken out by the Marathas across the state as the victim belonged to the community. Through their campaign, they have also raised long-pending demands like quota in education and jobs.

(With inputs from Pranali Lotlikar-Chindarkar)