81-yr-old gets life term for raping and murdering minor

An 81-year-old Pune resident was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and murdering a 10-year-old girl two years ago. Yogesh Joshi reports.

An 81-year-old Pune resident was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and murdering a 10-year-old girl two years ago.

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On Monday, additional session judge SD Darne had held Mohiniraj Yashwant Kulkarni guilty of raping and strangulating his maid Rekha Randive’s daughter on October 14, 2009. Randive, 30, was initially an accused in the case, but turned approver.

The minor’s body was found on the terrace of Kulkarni’s bungalow. Randive said she and Kulkarni — whose wife had neurotic disorder (she died during the trial of the case) — entered into a physical relationship in 2008. Randive used to bring her daughter to Kulkarni’s house.

According to the prosecution, the day Kulkarni — who retired as a deputy manager from Hindustan Antibiotics — killed the minor, he had sent Randive outside to get snacks. When Randive returned, he took her help to put the body on the terrace.

Police had arrested Kulkarni and Randive on October 24. Randive was charged with abetment. Later, she alleged Kulkarni had offered her Rs 50,000 to cover up the crime.

Kulkarni told the court, “I am innocent… This is injustice.”