A district court in Nashik has delivered a life imprisonment verdict to a 26-year-old man convicted of a brutal axe murder that occurred last year. The sentencing brings a measure of closure to a case that shocked the local community in Surgana taluka.
Court Delivers Life Term in Brutal Homicide
On Tuesday, District and Additional Sessions Judge J D Wadne pronounced life imprisonment for Ramesh Gavande, a resident of Surgana taluka in Nashik district. The conviction is for the murder of a 26-year-old woman on March 13, 2023. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict. Officials confirmed that failure to pay this penalty will result in an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.
Details of the Fateful Day Emerge
According to the prosecution cell of the Nashik Rural police, the crime was born out of Gavande's one-sided affection for the victim. On the day of the incident, he went to the woman's house in Surgana taluka, where a heated argument ensued over his unwelcome advances.
As the confrontation intensified, Gavande, in a fit of rage, struck the woman on the head with an axe he was carrying. The attack proved fatal. A critical piece of evidence came from a villager's testimony, who saw Gavande heading towards the victim's house with the weapon and later fleeing the scene without it.
Tragically, the woman's family members were not present at home during the assault; they were either away or working in their fields.
Legal Process and Conviction
The legal machinery was set in motion by the victim's father-in-law, who filed a formal complaint. Acting on this, the Surgana police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Ramesh Gavande under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
The police investigation built a strong case, leading to Gavande's arrest and subsequent trial. The prosecution presented evidence, including eyewitness accounts, which ultimately led to his conviction. The court's decision to award a life sentence underscores the severity of the premeditated crime.
This ruling highlights the judiciary's firm stance on crimes of passion and violence against women, delivering a message about the serious consequences of such brutal acts.
