Malegaon court sentences Vijay Khairnar to death for rape and murder of 4-year-old
A fast-track court in Malegaon sentenced Vijay Khairnar to death for the sexual assault and killing of a four-year-old girl, labeling the case “rarest of rare.”
In a fast-track trial, a Malegaon court sentenced Vijay Khairnar to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl from Dongrale village in Nashik district. The crime, which occurred on November 16, 2025, was described by the court as “rarest of rare.” Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam highlighted that the 225-page judgment relied on DNA evidence, material findings and the testimony of 24 witnesses, despite the lack of direct eyewitnesses or CCTV footage.
Khairnar, a 24-year-old daily-wage worker, was arrested on the day of the incident. The court dismissed his poverty and illiteracy as mitigating factors. The death sentence will be reviewed by the Bombay High Court before it can be carried out.
Why it matters
The ruling underscores the Indian judiciary's stance on severe child sexual abuse cases.
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