PUNE COURT CONVICTS ACCUSED IN 55 DAYS IN HORRIFIC CHILD ASSAULT CASE

PUNE: In a landmark demonstration of expedited judicial proceedings under the new criminal laws, a Special POCSO Court in Pune on Thursday convicted a 65-year-old man, Bhimrao Kamble, for the brutal sexual assault and murder of a three-year-old girl. The conviction comes exactly 55 days after the commission of the offense, underscoring a swift and rigorous implementation of fast-track trial mechanisms. 

Special Judge S.R. Salunkhe pronounced the accused guilty on all counts after concluding a continuous, day-to-day, in-camera trial. The trial was fast-tracked following explicit operational directives from the Bombay High Court to ensure an immediate judicial response given the heinous nature of the crime.

Factual Matrix of the Case
The prosecution's case dates back to May 1, 2026, when the three-year-old victim went missing while visiting her maternal grandmother's village near Pune. According to the investigation details, the convict lured the minor away from a local temple under the pretext of showing her a newborn calf and offering her snacks.

He subsequently took her to an isolated cattle shed, where he subjected her to aggravated penetrative sexual assault and murder. The convict then attempted to destroy evidence by hiding the victim’s body within the premises of the shed before it was discovered by frantic family members and local villagers later that evening. 

Investigation and Scientific Evidentiary Chain
The Pune Rural Police deployed an intensive investigative approach, filing a comprehensive 1,100-page charge-sheet within 14 days of the arrest.

The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar, constructed an airtight circumstantial and scientific case against Kamble. The evidence presented before the Special Court included:

• Electronic Evidence: High-definition CCTV footage tracing the movement of the accused leading the child away from the vicinity of the temple.
• Forensic Corroboration: Positive DNA matching reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) linking the accused to the crime scene.
• Medical Testimony: Detailed post-mortem analyses confirming the nature of the injuries and cause of death.
• Witness Depositions: The testimonies of 82 prosecution witnesses, including family members, medical experts, and independent panch witnesses, examined without procedural delays.

Statutory Implications and Sentencing
This case marks one of the high-profile convictions secured under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, read alongside the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

The Special Court has reserved its judgment on the quantum of sentence until June 29, 2026. The prosecution and the victim's family have strongly demanded the imposition of the maximum statutory penalty—the death sentence—arguing that the cold-blooded nature of the crime against an entirely defenseless infant falls squarely within the "rarest of rare" doctrine.

Discription: In a swift judicial response, a Special POCSO Court in Pune has convicted 65-year-old Bhimrao Kamble for the aggravated sexual assault and murder of a three-year-old girl. Adhering to Bombay High Court directives for day-to-day, in-camera hearings, the trial concluded just 55 days after the May 1, 2026 offense.

The Pune Rural Police submitted an extensive 1,100-page charge-sheet within a fortnight, anchoring the case on conclusive CCTV footage, positive DNA matching, and 82 witness testimonies. Convicted under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act, the accused awaits sentencing on June 29, 2026. The prosecution is aggressively seeking the death penalty, citing the exceptionally heinous nature of the crime.