Malegaon court sentences Vijay Khairnar to death for rape, murder of 4.5-year-old girl in Dongrale
A Malegaon court on October 16 sentenced 21-year-old Vijay Khairnar to death, calling the case rarest of the rare, and ordered Rs 10 lakh for the victim's family.
The court has delivered its verdict in the sexual assault and murder of a four-and-a-half-year-old girl in Dongrale village of Malegaon taluka. On October 16, the Additional District and Sessions Court in Malegaon sentenced 21-year-old Vijay Khairnar to death. The verdict came about ten months after the incident.
The case dates to November 16, 2025. Khairnar was accused of sexually assaulting the girl and brutally murdering her by strangulation. The incident had caused a stir across the state. Before the verdict, all eyes were on whether the court would award life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Pronouncing the verdict, District and Additional Sessions Judge K.G. Paldewar said the crime was rarer than the rarest of rare. The court also ordered Rs 10 lakh to be paid to the victim's family. The hearing was held in the POCSO fast-track court of the Additional District and Sessions Court in Malegaon.
At the time of the verdict, the accused, Vijay Khairnar, and his lawyer were produced in court through video conferencing. Members of the victim's family, Minister Dada Bhuse, and office-bearers and workers of several social and political organisations were present in the court premises.
Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam argued the case for the victim's side. He was assisted by Adv. Sneha Sharma Thakre and Adv. Sanjay Sonawane. Adv. Rathi appeared for the accused. Nikam, appointed by the government as special public prosecutor, presented his case on the strength of solid evidence.
Malegaon taluka police had investigated the case thoroughly and filed a 425-page chargesheet in court within the first 23 days. So far, 24 witnesses have been examined in the trial, including police personnel, villagers, the victim's family and a medical officer.
At an earlier hearing, charges had been framed against Khairnar and the court had given him a chance to state his side. Reports on his behaviour from the police, a psychiatrist and the jailer had also been submitted to the court. The accused can now appeal to the High Court within 30 days.
