On Tuesday, the prosecution requested the death penalty or life imprisonment for five men found guilty in the 2024 Bhayli gang rape case. The incident involved the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl during the Navratri festival. This case has drawn significant attention due to its severity and the age of the victim.
Court to Announce Sentence in POCSO Case on August 31
The Vadodara Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court is set to announce its sentencing decision on August 31. This follows recent hearings where arguments regarding the severity of the punishment were presented.
Court Convicts Five Men in Gang Rape Case in Vadodara
On August 20, the Vadodara POCSO court convicted five men for the gang rape of a girl in the Bhayli area, an incident that occurred on October 4, 2024. The accused—Munna Abbas Banjara, Mumtaz alias Aftab Banjara, Shahrukh Banjara, Saif Ali Banjara, and Ajmal Banjara—reportedly approached the victim and her friend at a secluded location on motorcycles. They threatened the girls, taking the keys to their two-wheeler and warning that they would inform the victims’ families.
During the trial, the prosecution presented substantial evidence, including CCTV footage, medical records, and testimonies from 45 witnesses. The five men, who lived in the Tandalja area and worked as labourers, faced arguments from both the defense and prosecution regarding sentencing.
The defense requested a minimum punishment, highlighting that the convicts were married with families. However, the prosecution countered this plea, stating that these personal circumstances were present at the time of the crime. Desai, representing the defense, argued that a 20-year sentence would allow the convicts to be released in their forties, which he deemed insufficient given the severity of the offense.
