Justice in 36 days: Pune court gives death penalty in toddler murder case

MUMBAI / PUNE: In one of the fastest judicial proceedings in Maharashtra’s history, a special court has sentenced a 65-year-old man to death for the sexual assault and murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Nasrapur, Pune.

Special Court Judge S. R. Salunkhe pronounced the capital punishment for the convict, Bhimrao Prabhakar Kamble, just days after the court found him guilty of the horrific crime.

The incident occurred on May 1, 2026, triggering an immediate and rigorous law enforcement response. A special investigation team, spearheaded by Inspector Vijaymala Pawar, apprehended Kamble and compiled a watertight case with extraordinary speed. Defying typical bureaucratic delays, the police submitted a comprehensive 1,200-page chargesheet within a mere 15 days of the crime. The investigative dossier was backed by extensive evidence, including testimonies from 55 witnesses, forensic reports, medical examination findings, and corroborating CCTV footage.

The legal proceedings moved at an unprecedented pace. The trial formally commenced in the special court on May 21, 2026. The prosecution and defence wrapped up arguments within 36 days, leading to Kamble's conviction on June 25. The court delivered the final death sentence three days later, wrapping up the entire judicial pipeline from offence to sentencing in under two months.

Legal experts and local observers have noted that the efficiency of the Pune police and the dedicated focus of the special court set a significant precedent for the fast-tracking of heinous crimes against children in the state.