Firozabad Court Sentences Man To Death For Killing Toddler, Verdict In 41 Days

5-year-old child. The convict, identified as Viraj Pathak, also known as Jitendra Pathak, was found guilty of killing the toddler by repeatedly slamming him onto the ground. The court delivered its final verdict just 41 days after the gruesome incident occurred, marking a significant milestone in fast-track justice. The case, which had sent shockwaves through the region, saw the police and the judiciary working in tandem to ensure the perpetrator was brought to justice without delay.

The Gruesome Incident and Motive

The incident took place on May 30 in the Yadav Colony of Shikohabad. 5-year-old boy named Aarav, was the son of Rati, a resident of Bamai village in the Sirsaganj tehsil. According to the case details, Rati was married to Sumit, alias Priyank, a resident of Siyaram Nagar in Budaun. However, due to domestic disputes, Rati was seeking a divorce from her husband. During this period, Viraj Pathak, a distant relative (devar) of Rati and a resident of Shekhupura in Budaun, developed a one-sided obsession with her. He had been constantly pressuring Rati to marry him, but she had refused his advances.

Viraj perceived the young child, Aarav, as a major obstacle in his plan to marry Rati. Driven by this twisted logic, he hatched a plan to eliminate the toddler. On the afternoon of May 30, Viraj lured the child away under the pretext of buying him some toffee. Once he reached a secluded spot in the street, he brutally slammed the child onto the hard ground eight times. The sheer brutality of the act was captured on video, which later went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage. By the time the family members realized what had happened and rushed Aarav to the hospital, it was too late. Doctors declared the child dead on arrival.

Police Action and Encounter

Following the murder, the Firozabad police acted with extreme urgency. A case was registered, and multiple teams were formed to track down the fleeing suspect. Within a few hours of the crime, the police received a tip-off that Viraj was spotted near the Buddha Bharthara crossing on the Mainpuri Road. A four-member police team cordoned off the area. Sensing he was trapped, Viraj, who was hiding in the bushes, opened fire on the police personnel. In the retaliatory firing that followed, Viraj was shot in both legs and subsequently apprehended. The police recovered a country-made pistol, 5 live cartridges, and 2 empty shells from his possession.

Fast-Track Trial and Final Verdict

The police demonstrated exceptional efficiency by filing the charge sheet in the case within just 6 days of the murder. The trial was conducted in a Fast Track Court, where the prosecution presented all the evidence, including the viral video and the testimony of the mother. Rati, the mother of the deceased child, had consistently demanded the death penalty for the accused. During the proceedings, the court took cognizance of all the facts and the cold-blooded nature of the crime. Recognizing the case as one of the rarest of rare, the judge awarded the death sentence to Viraj Pathak. The delivery of justice within 41 days has been hailed as a significant achievement for the local law enforcement and the legal system.