Puducherry court awards death penalty in 2024 child rape, murder case

The Special Judge of the Fast Track Court in Puducherry, M D Sumathy, on Friday, awarded the death penalty hanging till death to the accused Kakka alias Karunas in the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Puducherry, which took place in 2024.

The Special Judge of the Fast Track Court in Puducherry, M D Sumathy, on Friday, awarded the death penalty (hanging till death) to the accused Kakka alias Karunas in the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Puducherry, which took place in 2024. The judge had, on April 30, after hearing arguments from the prosecution, found the accused guilty of all charges in the 2024 rape and murder of the minor girl, as well as offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and had posted the case for sentencing to Saturday. The crime had sent shockwaves across the union territory when it was reported. Initially, the girl was reported missing from her home in March 2024. Her body was later found in a local drainage canal. She was last seen with Karunas, who was then 19 years old and a resident in the vicinity of the victim's house. Police arrested Karunas for questioning, and during interrogation, they also arrested his accomplice, Vivekanandan (56). However, Vivekanandan later died by suicide in the Central Prison at Kalapet, where he was lodged after arrest. Consequently, proceedings against him stood abated. The court had on April 30 convicted Karunas under various sections of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act. The court, earlier in the day, sentenced Karunas to death under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 of the POCSO Act. It also awarded compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim's family.