Court sentences accused to life imprisonment in 2023 murder case:Betul woman was stabbed 26 times, throat slit in public; video of incident surfaces

On Monday, the Second Additional Sessions Judge in Betul district sentenced Sanif to life imprisonment for brutally murdering a young woman in public in Multai. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the accused. The crime had sent shockwaves through the district due to its extreme brutality. Brutal murder on May 3, 2023 The incident occurred around 9:30 PM on May 3, 2023, when Sanif stabbed 26-year-old Simran, daughter of Afzal, 26 times with a knife in Gandhi Ward, Multai. The victim succumbed to her injuries, and the attack was later captured on CCTV, which played a key role in the investigation. Visuals related to the incident.. Evidence presented in court During the trial, the victim’s brother, Pintu Shahzad, turned hostile, refusing to support the prosecution. Despite this, the court relied on physical evidence, electronic evidence, and a DNA report to convict Sanif of murder. The CCTV footage corroborated the sequence of events, ensuring that justice was delivered even without full witness cooperation. Motive behind the crime According to ADPO Malini Deshraj, during interrogation, Sanif revealed that Simran had recorded videos and audio clips of him and was allegedly blackmailing him. The accused, an egg seller, was already engaged with a wedding scheduled in Maharashtra within two months. He claimed that Simran’s actions were threatening to halt his marriage, prompting him to commit the murder. Verdict delivered Based on the evidence, the court convicted Sanif and handed him a life sentence along with a fine of Rs 10,000. The verdict underscores the judiciary’s reliance on forensic and electronic evidence in cases where witnesses turn hostile.