1 day ago
Five Sentenced to Life in Vadodara Navratri Gangrape Case
A court in Vadodara sentenced five men to spend the rest of their lives in prison for assaulting a 16-year-old girl.
The crime happened during Navratri in October 2024.
The girl and a friend were in an isolated area when the men approached them.
Police did not have a camera at the exact location, so they studied cameras along nearby roads.
A phone call that lasted about three seconds gave investigators an important clue because a caller heard drums and DJ music.
Police also examined more than four lakh mobile-location records and other evidence.
The men were arrested within 48 hours and later convicted after a trial.
The court also fined each man Rs 50,000 and ordered Rs 10 lakh in compensation for the survivor.
A Vadodara court sentenced all five convicts to life imprisonment until their last breath.
Each convict was fined Rs 50,000, while the survivor was awarded Rs 10 lakh compensation.
The 16-year-old survivor was assaulted during Navratri on October 4, 2024, after five men approached her and a male friend.
Investigators traced the accused using more than 1,100 CCTV cameras, over four lakh mobile-location records and a three-second phone call.
The five men were arrested within 48 hours, and police filed a 6,000-page chargesheet within 17 days.
- Who
- A 16-year-old girl was assaulted by five men, who were later convicted by the court.
- What
- The five convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment until their last breath for the Navratri gangrape of the minor.
- Where
- The crime occurred in an isolated area on the outskirts of Vadodara, Gujarat.
- When
- The crime occurred on October 4, 2024; the sentence was pronounced on a Monday after the court's August 20 conviction verdict.
- Why
- The court found that all five men acted with common intention and that the prosecution established the circumstantial, forensic and digital evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
Key facts
- Sentence
- Life imprisonment until the last breath for all five convicts
- Fine
- Rs 50,000 imposed on each convict
- Survivor compensation
- Rs 10 lakh ordered by the court
- Investigation
- More than 1,100 CCTV cameras and over four lakh mobile-location records were examined
- Key clue
- A three-second call to the survivor's stolen phone carried the sound of drums and DJ music
- Arrests
- All five accused were arrested within 48 hours of the crime
- Chargesheet
- A 6,000-page chargesheet was filed within 17 days
Quotes
Nayan Sukhadwala
Special Public Prosecutor in the case
“We had sought death penalty or life until death, if the court would deem it appropriate to mete out a life term… The court considered our appeals, and the accused were sentenced to life until their last breath… The court observed that gangrape of a minor during a festival like Navratri, which is about reverence to women cannot be taken lightly. It also upheld that it was a heinous crime committed in common intention by all accused and all five were awarded life imprisonment.”
indianexpress.com
“In a case based on circumstantial evidence, the circumstances must form a complete and coherent chain pointing to the guilt of the accused… The court ultimately accepted the prosecution’s evidence and convicted all five accused on August 20. From an unidentified group to five convictions, it was a successful investigation and trial,”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
Vadodara Court Convicts Five in 2024 Navratri Gangrape Case
Five Men Sentenced to Life for Navratri Gang-Rape
Five Convicts Receive Life Terms in Gujarat Gang-Rape Case
Gujarat Seeks Death or Life Terms in Navratri Gangrape Case
Nine-Year-Old Girl Killed; Pune Neighbor Arrested After Investigation
Telangana Police Bust Fraud Gangs, Probe Fatal Crashes and Assaults
Mayawati to Review BSP Preparations for 2027 Elections
Ayodhya Temple CEO Appointment Faces Opposition Donation Allegations
UP Government Releases ₹101.49 Crore to Upgrade Kasturba Schools
Uttar Pradesh Girl’s School Journey Brings Two Tricycles
EPFO Identifies PF Trusts Eligible for Amnesty Scheme 2026
