A court in Rajkot has delivered a life imprisonment sentence to a 41-year-old man found guilty of a brutal murder that occurred just one day after the victim's wedding in 2022. The case, stemming from a bitter personal dispute, has reached its legal conclusion after a detailed trial.
Verdict in the Pratappur Village Murder
On December 3, Additional Sessions Judge I B Pathan convicted Yashvant alias Ashvin Makwana for the murder of Kamlesh Chavda. The crime took place in Pratappur village of Jasdan taluka. The judge's ruling came after evaluating substantial evidence presented by the prosecution, which painted a clear picture of premeditated violence.
A Crime Motivated by Resentment
According to the case presented by Public Prosecutor SK Vora, the motive was deeply personal. Makwana, who was 38 at the time of the crime, harbored intense resentment after Kamlesh Chavda married a woman with whom Makwana had previously been in a relationship. The prosecution revealed that the woman had eloped with Makwana twice to Mumbai but later ended the relationship, returned home, and married Kamlesh on August 15, 2022.
Merely a day after the wedding, on the night of August 16, 2022, Makwana entered Kamlesh's house. In a violent attack, he stabbed Kamlesh multiple times with a knife, causing fatal injuries. The swiftness of the attack, occurring within a day of the marriage, underscored the accused's intent.
Evidence That Sealed the Conviction
The prosecution built a strong case based on multiple pillars of evidence. The eyewitness account of complainant Vinod Chavda, the brother of the deceased, was crucial in establishing the sequence of events. Forensic science provided concrete links: investigators recovered a knife and the accused's ID card from the scene, and a forensic report confirmed the presence of the victim's blood on the clothes Makwana was wearing.
During the sentencing hearing, the defence counsel pleaded for leniency. They cited Makwana's relatively young age, his clean criminal record prior to this incident, and his family responsibilities as grounds for a lesser punishment. However, the prosecution argued forcefully that the murder was a premeditated act carried out with full intent, and urged the court to impose the maximum penalty. The judge agreed with the prosecution's argument, leading to the life imprisonment sentence.
Court Rejects Additional Charge
In a notable legal point, the court refused to apply Section 135(1) of the Gujarat Police Act, which relates to disobeying a lawful order. The police had invoked this section, arguing that a district magistrate's notification banning weapons in public places was active at the time.
However, Judge Pathan noted several deficiencies in this charge. No official who issued the notification was examined in court, no copy of the notification was produced as evidence, and there was no proof it had been publicised through posters or loudspeaker announcements. Furthermore, the judge held that the incident occurred inside a private house, not a public place, and there was no evidence to show the accused had any knowledge of such an order. Consequently, this charge was not upheld.
The verdict brings a measure of closure to a tragic case that devastated a family and highlighted the deadly consequences of personal vendetta. The court's reliance on eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence demonstrates the importance of a robust investigative process in securing convictions for serious crimes.
