Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had sought death sentence saying it was a 'rarest of the rare case'.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the verdict in Kopardi rape and murder case saying, no one in the state would dare to commit such a crime.
A sessions court in Ahmednagar awarded the death sentence to three men for the brutal rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in state's Kopardi village in 2016 that triggered protests across the state.
The three convicts are - Jitendra Babulal Shinde, Santosh Gorakh Bhawal and Nitin Gopinath Bhailum.
The Chief Minister also thanked Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and investigating agencies for their work. "With the capital punishment, wish of lakhs of mothers and sisters in the state has been fulfilled and with this verdict faith of common people in the judiciary is going to increase."
Fadnavis said that case had shaken whole Maharashtra and that is why state Government engaged Advocate Ujjwal Nikam for fighting the case and he ensured the guilty are punished.
The Chief Minister also said that the lawyers of the perpetrators tried delaying tactics but Nikam foiled their bid. "The verdict would increase the faith of people in the judiciary and would also send a message to the society that no one would ever dare to commit such a crime."
Hailing the verdict, the girl's mother said her daughter 'got justice in the true sense today'.
The 15-year-old victim was raped on July 13 at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district, by the trio, who also inflicted injuries all over her body and broke her limbs before throttling her
Bhawal's lawyer Balasaheb Khopade had pleaded that Bhawal may not be given the capital punishment.
However, special public prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam argued that this was a 'rarest of the rare case' and hence the tree convicts should be awarded the death sentence.
On October 7, Ahmednagar police filed the charge sheet running into over 350 pages before a sessions court in the district in which the trio were charged under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Kopardi incident proved to be the trigger for the silent marches (mook morchas) taken out by the Marathas across the state as the victim belonged to the community. Through their campaign, they have also raised long-pending demands like quota in education and jobs.
(With inputs from Shailendra Paranjpe)
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