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Rape-murder: HC acquits woman who ‘shielded’ son

A bench of Justices Anoop Chitkara, however, acquitted the convict’s mother, who had been sentenced to seven years by the trial court, while observing that she was only “trying to protect her Raja beta”, for which she cannot be punished under the IPC.

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Dec 27, 2025 12:47 PM IST

Punjab and Haryana High Court, death sentence, rape and murder of a five-and-a-half-year-old, rape and murder of minor, rape and murder of child, Indian express news, current affairs

On the mother’s role, it accepted she resisted the search and switched off the electricity when villagers tried to enter the house.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has commuted the death sentence awarded to a man for the rape and murder of a five-and-a-half-year-old daughter of his employer in Haryana’s Palwal in 2018, directing that he remain in prison for the rest of his natural life without any remission to “safeguard the other girls on the street from the pervertedness of the convict”.

A bench of Justices Anoop Chitkara, however, acquitted the convict’s mother, who had been sentenced to seven years by the trial court, while observing that she was only “trying to protect her Raja beta”, for which she cannot be punished under the IPC.

Holding that rigorous imprisonment till natural death without remission was proportionate to the crime, the bench observed the murder was not a premeditated act but “because of panic to destroy the evidence of rape”. The girl was five years, seven months and 14 days old when she was raped and killed on May 31, 2018, by the convict, an employee of her father who ran a small tent installation business. The girl’s father and the convict had gone to install a tent a short distance away from.

The convict went to his employer’s to get lunch for the victim’s father. While returning, the girl accompanied him. As the girl’s father took a nap, the convict took the girl to his home, where he raped her and then stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife and hid the body in a container where his mother used to store flour. The judges noted the victim’s age, the fact of rape and murder were undisputed… The doctor who conducted the post-mortem stated on oath that “the possibility of subjecting the deceased to rape, sexual assault can’t be ruled out”.

The court found the chain of circumstances complete: villagers saw the convict taking the girl by the hand towards his house, he gave a false explanation to the father that he had dropped her at “the plant”, and the child’s body was recovered from a drum inside the compound of his house. Bloodstains on the drum and a nearby stone matched the victim’s DNA. While DNA from the victim was not found on the convict’s Virender’s clothes and semen could not be detected on swabs or her clothing, the bench held these gaps were not fatal, given the strength of other evidence.

In its December 23 verdict, the court, while opining that “murder was because of panic to destroy evidence and not a premeditated act”, held that “the convict’s life should not be taken away by the judicial process, and instead, to save the children and females, he can be incapacitated by imposing a suitable sentence”. In deciding against the death penalty, the bench surveyed SC rulings in similar child rape-murder cases.

On the mother’s role, it accepted she resisted the search and switched off the electricity when villagers tried to enter the house. The judges said: “Unfortunately, in this part of India, family members, especially mothers, often have such blind love for their precious sons that, no matter how imperfect or villainous they might be, are still regarded as Raja betas… Her only fault is she was trying to protect her Raja beta, for which she cannot be punished under the IPC.”

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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