Firozabad man who killed 18-month-old to marry his mother gets death penalty
The Firozabad District and Sessions Court on Friday awarded the death sentence to Viraj, alias Jitendra Pathak, after convicting him for the brutal murder of
The Firozabad District and Sessions Court on Friday awarded the death sentence to Viraj, alias Jitendra Pathak, after convicting him for the brutal murder of an 18-month-old boy, Aarav, in a case that had sent shock waves across Uttar Pradesh in May. The court delivered the sentence just 40 days after the incident, holding Viraj guilty of killing the toddler, whom he allegedly considered an obstacle to his relationship with the child’s mother, whom he wanted to marry. Read Full Story The swift trial saw 13 prosecution witnesses and one defence witness examined before the court reached its verdict. The convict, a resident of Badaun, was produced before the Firozabad District and Sessions Court under heavy security at around 2:30 pm on Friday for sentencing.
More than a dozen police personnel were deployed during his appearance in court. The District Judge had convicted Viraj on Thursday after the conclusion of the trial, with the sentence pronounced on Friday following the final hearing. Public Prosecutor Rajiv Priyadarshi said the case was investigated and prosecuted with exceptional speed. He noted that the police filed the charge sheet within six days of the murder, enabling the trial to conclude within 40 days. A total of 13 witnesses testified for the prosecution, while one witness appeared on behalf of the defence. Based on the evidence and witness testimonies, the court awarded the death penalty to the convict. According to the public prosecutor, Viraj began slapping himself after hearing the sentence pronounced in court.
VIRAJ KILLED TODDLER ON MAY 30 The case relates to the killing of one-and-a-half-year-old Aarav in Yadav Colony of Shikohabad in Firozabad district on May 30. According to police, Viraj took the child with him on the pretext of buying him a toffee before repeatedly slamming him onto the road, causing fatal injuries. The toddler was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Investigators said the accused confessed during interrogation that he had committed the murder. He claimed he was involved in a relationship with the child’s mother and alleged that she had been blackmailing him. Police said he believed the child was an obstacle to his relationship and intended marriage with the woman. The child’s mother also alleged that Viraj wanted to marry her and viewed her son as a hurdle.
INCIDENT SPARKED OUTRAGE The gruesome assault, captured on CCTV cameras installed nearby, triggered widespread outrage after the footage surfaced on social media. Following the incident, the accused fled the scene but was later arrested by police during an encounter. The investigation was completed swiftly, culminating in the filing of the charge sheet within six days. With the trial now concluded and the death sentence awarded, the case stands out for the speed of investigation and judicial proceedings. The conviction and sentence will now proceed through the mandatory appellate process before the punishment can attain finality under law. Ends
The BriefWire