40-yr-old convicted for rape, murder of minor

Surat: The court of additional district and sessions judge on Thursday convicted 40-year-old Mukesh Panchal for raping and murdering a six-year-old girl on Ved Road area on December 7, 2022.
The judgement was announced in just 78 days, thanks to the speedy investigation by police and fast trial by the court.

The court of U M Bhatt is likely to announce the quantum of punishment on Friday. “The accused was convicted under all charges framed against him. The prosecution will demand death sentence in the case considering the heinous nature of the crime,” said Nayan Sukhadwala, district government pleader.
Panchal was alone at home on that day as his parents had gone out of station. The minor knew him and Panchal took her inside his home on December 7 morning. He strangled the minor after raping her. He kept the minor’s body in the storage in a bed at his home.
The girl’s family started searching for her when she was not found for a few hours. They later alerted police and lodged a missing person’s report. During a search, the body was found in Panchal’s house. He had escaped from the spot but was caught by the crime branch later.
He was caught on December 8 and was remanded in police custody till December 13. Charges against him were framed on December 28 and on January 2, a total of 86 pieces of evidence were submitted in the court by the prosecution. A total of 46 witnesses were examined by the court.
Panchal was earlier arrested for his involvement in 12 criminal offences like motorcycle theft, possessing weapons and other petty crimes.