New Delhi: In a significant ruling on Friday, the High Court upheld the death sentence awarded to Ramchandra Thakur for the brutal rape and murder of a four-year-old girl. However, the court acquitted Ramchandras father, Madhu Thakur, of the life imprisonment sentence previously imposed by the lower court.Court verdict and rationaleThe bench of Justice Anand Sen and Justice Gautam Kumar Chaudhary delivered the judgment, affirming the lower courts death sentence as justified due to the heinous nature of the crime. On September 22, 2019, the Giridih court had sentenced Ramchandra Thakur to death and Madhu Thakur to life imprisonment. Both convicts appealed the sentences, while the government sought to confirm the death penalty for Ramchandra.The High Courts ruling described the crime as completely planned and heinous, noting the brutal act of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a young girl and subsequently abandoning her body in a field. The court emphasized that the body was only discovered following the accuseds confession, further underscoring the crimes severity. As a result, the court deemed the death sentence appropriate for this rarest of rare case.Details of the caseThe crime occurred on March 26, 2018, in the Parsan OP area of Giridih (Dhanwar). The victim was last seen being carried by Ramchandra Thakur, who claimed he would take her home. When the child did not return, her father and villagers conducted a search, eventually learning that Ramchandra was also missing. It was later discovered that a dispute existed between the victims father and Ramchandras father, Madhu Thakur, leading to the FIR accusing both Thakurs of kidnapping.The High Courts decision has sparked discussions about the judicial handling of such grave cases. While Ramchandra faces the death penalty, Madhu Thakurs acquittal highlights the complexities of evidence and judicial review in high-profile cases.
