Narmadapuram (Madhya Pradesh): A local court in Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni Malwa of Narmadapuram district, sentenced a 30-year-old man to death for the rape and murder of a 6-year-old girl, on Friday.
The verdict was delivered by the District and Additional Sessions Judge of Seoni Malwa, Tabassum Khan.
The convict, Ajay Wadiva, son of Hemraj Wadiva and a resident of Khal Kharda village in Seoni Malwa, was found guilty under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act.
Incident occurred 2 months ago
The incident took place on the night of January 2, 2025. At around 10:27 pm, Dial 100 police received a report from Nayapura village about a missing 6-year-old girl. Constable Rahul Kaushal from Dial 100 reached the spot and began searching for the girl with her family in the nearby area.
Suspicion fell on a local man, Ajay Wadiva. Based on the family's statement, a missing person case was registered which later converted to a kidnapping and sexual assault case under Section 137(2) of the BNS and relevant sections of the POCSO Act.
FSL officers joined investigation
Due to the serious and sensitive nature of the case, Superintendent of Police Gurkaran Singh and Additional SP Raju Rajak visited the crime scene and instructed for swift arrest of the suspect and collection of physical evidence. Under their direction, the crime scene was examined by FSL officers and evidence was collected.
The investigation was led by inspector Anoop Uikey. Within 12 hours, the accused Ajay Wadiwa was arrested by the special team formed by the SP.
41 witnesses presented in court
Seoni Malwa police completed the investigation in just 10 days, and on January 13, 2025, filed the charge sheet before the ADJ court in Seoni Malwa. A total of 41 prosecution witnesses, including family members, independent witnesses, and others, were presented as evidence.
After witness examination, the trial concluded in just 2 months and 28 days, and on April 11, 2025, the court found Ajay Wadiwa guilty under all charges and sentenced him to death.
