Prayagraj: Man sentenced to death for raping and murdering girl, court says it’s a shocking crime

March 31, 2026

Prayagraj : The man who raped and murdered an 8-year-old girl in Prayagraj was sentenced to death on Monday. The court also imposed a fine of 25,000 rupees. The verdict was delivered by POCSO Court Judge Vinod Kumar Chaurasia.

Court’s Strict Comment

The judge said: The brutality against an innocent child poses a threat to society. The case is extremely cruel, inhuman, and shocking to society. There is no chance of the accused’s reformation. Therefore, the accused deserves the death penalty.

Verdict Delivered in 18 Months

The court delivered its verdict within 18 months of the incident. The accused was convicted five days ago. The case is from the Soraon police station area.

Abduction of a Girl Returning from Durga Puja

On October 3, 2024, 26-year-old accused Mukesh Patel abducted a girl returning from Durga Puja. He later murdered her. Twelve days after the incident, the police arrested the accused in an encounter.

Shot in Encounter 12 Days Later
The public prosecutor stated that at the time, the police claimed that the accused first raped the innocent girl and then repeatedly attacked her face to conceal her identity. He broke her teeth, injured her face, and broke both her hands.

On October 16, the police arrested the accused in an encounter. When the police surrounded him in the Ganganagar area, he opened fire and ran away. He was shot in the leg in the retaliatory fire.

The Journey from Chargesheet to Sentencing

The public prosecutor stated that after the investigation, the police filed a chargesheet on December 10, 2024. The court framed charges on December 21, 2024. The accused was convicted on March 26, 2026. This is the 10th death sentence handed down in the District and Sessions Court of Prayagraj in 49 years.