Gandhinagar, December 27: The Gujarat High Court on Friday upheld a special POCSO court verdict awarding the death penalty to a man convicted of raping and killing a three-year-old girl in Surat. The convict, Anil Yadav, was pronounced guilty by the court of additional sessions judge in July this year and awarded the death sentence. The Gujarat High Court dismissed an appeal filed by Yadav challenging the lower court verdict. Gujarat: Man Held for Raping 8-year-old Girl at Knifepoint.

The victim had gone missing from her house in Godadara locality of Surat on the evening of October 14, 2018. Her body was later recovered the next day morning from Yadav's home. The convict had initially joined the search in search of the minor, but later disappeared locking his home. Surat crime branch nabbed Yadav from Maniya village in Bihar's Buxar district on October 19 and booked for rape, murder, unnatural sex and attempt to destroy the evidence. Gujarat Govt Forms Five-member Panel to Review Rape Cases.

During the trial which was completed within five months of charges having been framed in the case, judge PS Kala convicted Yadav under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in July. The convict was sentenced to death. Yadav lived on the ground floor of the building where the minor lived with her family on the upper floor.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 27, 2019 01:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).