Chennai court sentences child’s rapist and murderer to death

The convict, S Daswant, who also killed his own mother in December 2017, wanted the judge to dismiss the case after he owned up to raping and murdering the seven-year-old girl.

A Mahila court in Chengalpet near Chennai on Monday convicted a 23-year-old IT professional of raping and murdering a seven-year-old girl in February 2017 and sentenced him to death.

According to the prosecution, the convict lured the girl into his flat , raped and killed her, packed her body in a bag and set it afire on a highway. (Sushil Kumar/HT File Photo)

S Daswant is also facing a separate case of killing his mother in December 2017 after he came out on bail in September.

According to the prosecution, Daswant lured the girl into his flat on February 6, 2017, raped and killed her, packed her body in a bag and set it afire on a highway. He lived in the same residential complex as the victim in Mangadu near Porur on the outskirts of Chennai. Police said he used to lure children to his flat after he bought a puppy.

He was arrested for the rape and murder but secured bail on technical grounds in September.

The court handed him a sentence of 46 years in jail on various counts. Of this 31 years sentence is for kidnapping, raping a minor girl and destroying evidence, theft and robbery. Under POSCO, Daswant was awarded another 15 years sentence, making it virtually impossible for him to ever come out of prison before his death sentence is carried out.

Daswant got bail on technical grounds in September after the police failed to file a charge sheet within 90 days of his arrest. After his release on bail, he was living with his parents.

On December 2, he allegedly murdered his mother S Sarala when she was alone at home, stole her jewellery and escaped to Mumbai. He was arrested in Mumbai by a special team of Chennai police on December 6.

The court examined 30 witnesses, 45 documents and 19 pieces of evidence.

Daswant had in a written statement to the judge owned up his crime and asked the court to dispense with the trial. Judge P Velumurugan insisted on the trial which was held in camera.

Only the judge, the accused, his lawyers and witnesses were present.

Rajesh Babu, father of the child, said that he was extremely satisfied with the judgment and was in tears after the judge pronounced the death sentence.

“I had taken up the fight and wanted death for the murder and rapist. I had wanted nothing less than death for the monster. He was not a man, he was a monster,” he said.

“When I started the fight, many had advised me against it as courts take a long time. I am satisfied with the judgment, though I know my daughter will not come back. I hope no other child suffers what my child suffered,” Babu said.