9-yr-old deposes in Sessions Court, nails mother’s killer

MUMBAI, JAN 22: Punit Sancheti was five years old when he saw his mother being killed in 1994. On January 19 this year, the now nine-year...

MUMBAI, JAN 22: Punit Sancheti was five years old when he saw his mother being killed in 1994. On January 19 this year, the now nine-year-old kid not only identified his mother’s killer but also gave a complete account of the incident while deposing before Sessions Court.

Following his deposition, Additional Sessions Judge P K Gaikwad sentenced the accused, Kailash Maradiya, to life imprisonment under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on him. Maradiya was also sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and charged a fine of Rs 1,000 under Section 452 (criminal trespass) of IPC, and given 10 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 2,000 under Section 392 (robbery) of IPC.

During examination-in-chief by special public prosecutor G S Karulkar, Punit told the court he was sleeping in the inside room of his flat at Kandivli (east) on the day of the incident (December 3, 1994), but he suddenly woke up hearing the cries of hismother. He said he then went to the kitchen, where he saw the accused assaulting his mother with a scissor and a knife and asking her for the cupboard keys. He pleaded with the assailant to leave his mother, but the former instead caught hold of him and continued attacking his mother. The accused later stabbed Punit on the neck, as a result of which he fell unconscious.

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Punit told the court he regained consciousness when his father Ashok returned home from work late in the night. His mother was already dead by then. He narrated the entire incident to his father and told him the accused often used to bring chocolates for him when he came to meet his mother. Punit also told his father he would be able to identify the assailant, who had a dark complexion and was wearing a sweater and a cap.

A terrified Punit initially deposed before the court with his eyes closed, as he had seen the accused in the courtroom and was terrified. After persuasion by Karulkar, Punit opened his eyes and continued todepose.

Ashok Sancheti, who also deposed, told the court he found the door of the cupboard broken and jewellery and cash valued at Rs 68,300 missing. The doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination said the deceased was stabbed in the neck region and was 24 to 28 weeks pregnant. Karulkar said the accused had fled to Pali, Rajasthan, but he was arrested on January 6, 1995. Prabha Mane appeared for the accused.