On December 3, 2024, the Supreme Court stayed the death sentence of a man convicted for the brutal rape and murder of a 19-year-old engineering student in Jharkhand. The convict, Rahul Kumar, challenged the order of the Jharkhand High Court, which had upheld his death sentence.
According to the prosecution’s case, the victim had returned home alone after attending college. The next morning, her body was discovered by neighbors in a burnt condition. Her father suspected foul play and lodged a complaint, leading to an investigation by the CBI. The investigation revealed that the accused had been stalking the victim. The post-mortem report confirmed the victim had been raped and strangled with a data cable and electric wire. The DNA report identified the accused as the perpetrator.
The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape), 449 (house-trespass), and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC, sentencing him to death. The Jharkhand High Court affirmed the conviction, emphasizing the gravity of the crime and the need for capital punishment.
In a bid to overturn the High Court’s decision, the accused approached the Supreme Court, which stayed his execution pending further examination.
Case Title: Rahul Kumar @ Rahul Raj @ Raj Srivastava @ Rocky Raj @ Aryan @ Ankit vs. State of Jharkhand, Diary No. – 56166/2024
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