The alleged sexual assault and murder of a 4-year-old girl in Nasrapur, Bhor tehsil, Pune district, has triggered sharp political demands, with Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshvardhan Sapkal on Saturday, 3 May 2025 calling on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to resign as Home Minister as an act of penance and appoint a dedicated, full-time minister to head the department.

Congress Calls Out Law and Order Failure

Speaking at a press conference, Sapkal described the incident as a stain on Maharashtra's reputation. "The state's law and order situation has completely crumbled, with the safety of women and young girls increasingly compromised. The recent brutal sexual assault and murder of a minor girl in Pune district is a stain on Maharashtra's reputation and represents a monumental failure of the Home Department. Criminals no longer fear the police. With no dedicated, full-time focus on the Home Ministry, lawlessness prevails," Sapkal said.

Sapkal also alleged that corruption in the Mahayuti government's Home Department has reached alarming levels, stating it is "rampant from the bottom to the top."

A Pattern of Incidents Cited

To substantiate his claims, Sapkal cited a series of high-profile cases, including the Santosh Deshmukh case in Beed, the rape at Swargate ST stand, harassment of girls within a Union Minister's household, the Badlapur school sexual assault case, and the Ashok Kharat case. He also alleged that Maharashtra is turning into a "drug state" — invoking the phrase "Udta Maharashtra" — with the Home Minister making announcements but failing to deliver concrete action. "The Home Minister is directly responsible for the mockery made of women's safety and public order," he said.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar Visits Nasrapur, Demands Fast-Track Trial

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) legislator Rohit Pawar visited Nasrapur and condemned the incident. In a post on X, Pawar wrote: "Citizens have launched a movement demanding the death penalty for the accused in the case where a 65-year-old man allegedly committed atrocities on a 4-year-old girl in Nasrapur and murdered her. I visited the protest. The act committed by the accused is extremely heinous, and the protesters' emotions are intense. Therefore, the accused should face the strictest punishment under the law at the earliest. A representation has been submitted to the administration demanding a fast-track trial, along with other measures. We have also assured that we stand with the victim's family."

Pawar formally demanded that the government conduct the trial in a fast-track court and ensure stringent punishment for the accused at the earliest.

Congress Broadens Attack on Mahayuti Government

Sapkal also criticised the ongoing national census for excluding a caste-based enumeration, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of going back on his word regarding Aadhaar linkage. He further listed what he described as unfulfilled promises of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, including the 100 Smart Cities project, the pledge to create 2 crore jobs annually, doubling farmers' income, and the persistent devaluation of the rupee.

What Happens Next

With opposition pressure mounting and citizens in Nasrapur reportedly demanding the death penalty for the accused, the Fadnavis-led government faces growing scrutiny over its law and order record. A formal representation demanding a fast-track trial has been submitted to the administration. Whether the government responds with structural changes to the Home Ministry — or dismisses the demands as political grandstanding — will be closely watched in the days ahead.