Death sentence set aside in child rape and murder case:MP HC says accused deserves chance to reform; victim was strangled while screaming in pain

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has commuted the death sentence of the accused in the rape and murder case of a 6-year-old girl. The court sentenced the accused to 25 years of imprisonment instead of the death penalty. The court said – this case does not completely fall under the ‘rarest of rare’ category. The case was heard by the Division Bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Avnindra Kumar Singh. Senior Advocate Imtiaz Hussain and Advocate Mohd. Sajid Khan appeared on behalf of the accused. Government Advocate Abhishek Singh appeared on behalf of the state government. Accused’s act is a blot on society – High Court During the hearing, the court examined the accused’s social audit report, social background, and circumstances of the case. The High Court remarked that the accused’s act was “lustful” and “a stain on society.” However, the court said that while determining the sentence, only the brutality of the crime cannot be made the basis. According to the court, aspects such as the accused’s social background, behavior, and possibility of reformation also need to be considered. No relief for 25 years On this basis, the court commuted the death sentence. The High Court clarified that the accused will not be given any kind of relief for 25 years. He will have to remain in jail for a long period. Girl suddenly went missing from home The case is from a village in the Siwani Malwa police station area of Narmadapuram district. On January 2, 2025, a 6-year-old girl living in the village suddenly went missing from home. The family searched extensively in the surrounding area, but could not find any trace of her. The family members became suspicious of Ajay Wadiwa, who lived in the neighborhood. After this, a complaint was filed with the police. Based on the complaint, the police took Ajay Wadiwa into custody and started interrogation. Accused confessed to the crime during interrogation In police interrogation, the accused confessed that he had taken the girl to the bushes near the canal close to the village. There he raped the girl. When the girl started screaming during the incident, fearing being caught, the accused strangled her. Dumped the body near the canal After the murder, the accused threw the girl’s body at a deserted place near the canal. The next day, police recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. Sivni Malwa police arrested the accused and presented the challan in the district court. The case was heard in the Narmadapuram District Sessions Court. Verdict came in three months The Narmadapuram District Sessions Court heard the case swiftly and delivered its verdict in approximately three months. On April 9, 2025, the court convicted the accused and sentenced him to death. The accused had challenged this decision in the Madhya Pradesh High Court.