Berhampur: A man was sentenced to death by a fast-track court in Gujarat’s Surat Friday for the kidnapping, murder, and rape of a seven-year-old girl from Odisha. Reportedly, judge UM Bhatt convicted the accused Muku Chamanlal Panchal alias Mukesh Bhai (42) of the crime he had committed at his house 7 December 2022. The court has also declared a compensation of Rs 23.5 lakh to the victim’s family, said the special public prosecutor Nayanbhai Sukadwala.
As per sources, Ganjam’s Shivaprasad Swain was staying with his family in Tirupati Society of Surat’s Katragam. The accused had kidnapped the minor December 7, while police recovered her body the next day from Mukesh’s house after the missing complaint was filed by her parents. The body was recovered from a gunnysack which was deliberately placed under the bed. The accused first kidnapped the girl after luring her with chocolates and took her to his house, where he raped and subsequently murdered her. The convict had planned to burn the body near a nearby stream. But police recovered the body before he could carry out his plan. The hearing of the case witnessed the recording of 46 testimonies.
Further, the court took only two months to give its verdict. Special public prosecutor Nayanbhai Sukadwala conducted the case proceedings during the judgment.
