The Allahabad High Court has commuted the death sentence of three men convicted of gang-raping and murdering a 17-year-old girl in Bulandshahr in 2018 to 25 years imprisonment. The court ruled that the case did not meet the criteria for the death penalty.
Accused Forced Victim into Car, Raped and Strangled Her
On January 2, 2018, the accused, Zulfiqar Abbasi, Dilshad Abbasi, and Malani alias Israel, abducted the victim from her bicycle and forced her into their car. They then gang-raped her and, when she began to cry, strangled her with her own dupatta. They later dumped her body in a drain.
POCSO Court Had Awarded Death Penalty
In 2021, a POCSO court in Bulandshahr found the three men guilty and sentenced them to death. The court cited the heinous nature of the crime and its potential to instill fear in the community. However, the High Court, upon reviewing the evidence, concluded that the case did not warrant the death penalty.
Court Considers Age, Criminal History, and Rehabilitation Potential
In its decision, the High Court noted that the accused were relatively young and had no prior criminal records. It also considered the possibility of their rehabilitation and concluded that their families’ support and their young age suggested a potential for reform.
High Court Upholds Conviction
While commuting the death sentence, the High Court upheld the conviction of the three men for the crimes of kidnapping, gang rape, and murder. They will now serve 25 years in prison without remission.
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