A 24-year-old welder has been sentenced to death after being convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a four-year-old girl in Maharashtra, India. Vijay Sanjay Khairnar lured the child with chocolate before carrying out the attack on November 16, 2025.
Court hears of 'total depravity'
Judge K G Paldewar described the case as one of the "rarest" and told the killer he had betrayed the trust of a helpless child. The defence's pleas for leniency were rejected, with the judge saying Khairnar showed "total depravity" and no sign of reforming himself, according to The Times of India.
The court heard how the girl went missing while playing with friends near her home. Khairnar forced himself on the child before strangling her to death and attempting to cover up his crimes.
Witnesses describe events
Sneha Sharma-Thakare, acting for the girl's family, said Khairnar targeted the child while she was playing with five boys from school in a lane. The children spotted the accused with the child, and another witness later saw him dump something wrapped in a bed sheet near a mobile phone tower near his home two hours later.
Khairnar was known to the children as "Dada", according to the Deccan Chronicle.
Sentencing and next steps
Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam told the court Khairnar should be shown no leniency as he posed a continued threat to society. On Friday, October 16, Khairnar was also sentenced to seven years in prison and fined. The Bombay High Court in Mumbai will be asked to confirm the death sentence.
