Pune Court Sentences 65-Year-Old to Death for Heinous Crime Against Child

Pune Court Issues Death Sentence in Child Rape and Murder Case

In a landmark ruling, a special POCSO court in Pune has sentenced Bhimrao Prabhakar Kamble, aged 65, to death for the appalling rape and murder of a three-year-old girl. The judgement, delivered on June 29 by Judge S.R. Salunkhe, underscores the necessity for courts to strictly enforce laws that protect children, as highlighted in the case of State of Maharashtra v. Bhimrao Prabhakar Kamble.

The horrific crime occurred on May 1, 2026. The young victim was visiting her maternal grandmother during school holidays in a residence situated within the Shriram temple precincts. Kamble, who was working there as a daily-wage laborer for a renovation project, lured the child away with promises of snacks and showing her a newborn calf.

According to the prosecution, Kamble took the child to a nearby cowshed, where he sexually assaulted and murdered her, subsequently attempting to hide her body. Kamble, previously ousted from his village for misconduct, had been maintaining the cowshed where his belongings were stored in an adjacent shed.

The trial was notable for its swift proceedings, concluding in less than two months from the date of the offence, a testament to the court’s efficient handling of the case. On June 25, Kamble was found guilty under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. These included offenses warranting the death penalty under Section 103(1) for murder, Section 65(2) for the rape of a child below 12 years, and Section 6 of the POCSO Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault resulting in death.

Crucial evidence included CCTV footage capturing Kamble leading the victim towards the cowshed and returning alone. Kamble failed to provide any plausible explanation for this damning evidence. The judge, in imposing the death sentence, reflected on the persistent nature of crimes against children, despite past high-profile cases like Nirbhaya, Kathua, and Unnao.

The court was moved by the evidence, including the victim’s last scream captured on audio-visual CCTV and the 18 injuries on her body. Highlighting the innocence and trust of the child towards Kamble, the court expressed the deep emotional impact on the victim’s family and the societal outrage, marked by public protests and a highway blockade with the victim’s body.

Judge Salunkhe acknowledged the exceptional work by law enforcement in swiftly filing the charge-sheet within 16 days, leading to a rapid trial conclusion. The crime was characterized as exceptionally cruel, brutal, and premeditated, placing it in the ‘rarest of rare’ category, thereby justifying the death penalty.

The court considered Kamble’s age, not as a mitigating factor, but as an aggravating one, emphasizing that his actions posed a significant threat to society. Despite a home study report from the probation officer and a conduct report from jail authorities, no favorable information emerged for Kamble, and his family did not support him in court.