SC Stays Execution Of Death Sentence Of A Man Accused Of Rape And Murder Of 3-Year-Old Girl [Read Order]

The gullibility and vulnerability of a 3-year-old girl, who could not have nurtured any idea about the maladroitly designed biological desires of this nature, accompanied the accused who extinguished her life spark, the high court had observed.

The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of the death sentence of a man accused of rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl.

The Chhattisgarh High Court had dismissed the appeal filed by the accused who was found guilty by the trial court. It had also confirmed the death sentence awarded to him.

In this case, after the girl went missing, the accused, Lochan Shrivas, himself claimed that he can trace the whereabouts of the girl within an hour by performing pooja and the parents of victim girl approached him and asked him to perform pooja and also provided him material required for performing pooja. After pooja, he informed them that the girl is packed in a gunny bag lying in the bushes near the pole at Amlibhauna. This made them suspect the accused and later the police registered the case. During interrogation, he spelt out details of the crime and later he was chargesheeted and convicted by the trial court.

While confirming the death sentence, the high court had observed: “The appellant's conduct exhibits total disregard for human values and shows a totally depraved, brutal and scheming mind taking advantage of helplessness of a child, who had only seen three springs of life.”

The division bench had also observed: “Life of a girl was taken away in a gruesome and barbaric manner which pricks not only the judicial conscience but also the conscience of the society. The crime in question was not committed under any mental stress or emotional disturbance and therefore it is difficult to comprehend that he would not commit such acts and would be reformed or rehabilitated.”

The bench headed by the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, granting leave to appeal, also directed the Registry to call for the records.

Read the Order Here