Maharashtra: Ujjwal Nikam Assigned to Represent Kalyan Minor Girl Rape-Murder Case

Mumbai, Dec 28 (NationPress) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared on Saturday that he will take stringent and prompt measures in response to the horrific crime involving a 13-year-old girl in Kalyan. He revealed that senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam will be the legal representative in the court for this rape-murder case.

Furthermore, he ordered the Thane Police Commissioner to ensure that the charge sheet is submitted within 30 days. He stated, "The victim was like my daughter. It is my duty to guarantee justice for her. The offenders will face severe punishment within four months."

On Saturday, the girl’s parents met with the Chief Minister, accompanied by Mumbai BJP Vice President Amarjeet Mishra and Kalyan East MLA Sulbha Gaikwad.

During their discussion, the family expressed their grief and called for justice. The Chief Minister assured them of comprehensive support and stressed that strict measures would be implemented against the perpetrators.

The Chief Minister instructed the Thane Police Commissioner to guarantee the victim’s family feels completely secure.

He emphasized: "The family should not fear anyone. Should anyone attempt to intimidate them, stringent actions will be taken against them."

Fadnavis also ensured that the culprits would remain incarcerated and would face the most severe consequences.

After the meeting, Amarjeet Mishra remarked: "This case transcends one family; it represents a critical issue of safety and justice for all daughters. The Chief Minister's choice of appointing such a seasoned advocate as Ujjwal Nikam and his order to file the chargesheet within 30 days marks a significant move towards justice."

Moreover, Amarjeet Mishra handed a cheque of Rs 1 lakh as immediate financial assistance to the victim’s family.

Previously, on Thursday, a Special POCSO Court in Kalyan sent Vishal Gawli and his wife Sakshi Gawli into police custody for a week until January 2 in relation to the alleged rape and murder of the 13-year-old girl, who had been reported missing since Monday.

The district of Thane was shaken by this shocking sexual crime against the girl, who had left home to purchase some items but subsequently went 'missing' until her body was discovered on December 25 (Wednesday).

This incident follows nearly five months after the Badlapur sexual assault case involving two nursery school girls in August, marking the second case that has ignited public outcry, with demands for the death penalty for the accused, Vishal Gawli, 35, and his wife Sakshi Gawli, 25.

Vishal Gawli is alleged to have kidnapped the girl from near her residence, forcibly transported her in an autorickshaw to his home, assaulted, raped, and murdered her, subsequently discarding her body near a cemetery in Bhiwandi, approximately 8 km away.

After the girl did not return home for several hours, her family filed a missing complaint, prompting an investigation that led to the Gawli couple as suspects after the girl's body was recovered.

The Thane Police established six teams to locate him, but Vishal Gawli had already escaped to Shegaon in Buldhana district, where his in-laws live.

There, he was seen on CCTV in a busy restaurant purchasing alcohol, and local police apprehended him in a hair salon while he was getting a clean shave, presumably to alter his appearance.