Pallavi Purkayastha's murder: Parents demand death penalty for accused

Parents of Pallavi Purkayastha on Monday demanded the death penalty for former watchman Sajjad Ahmed Pathan who has been found guilty of murdering their 25-year-old daughter.

"We don't want anything less than death penalty. This will give other criminals the message that they will not be spared. I would also like to add that the Mumbai police did a good job in this case," said Pallavi's father Atanu Purukayastha. "He has not killed one, but two people, including Avik. Both the families have been going through hell for the past year. Nothing less than death will serve as a deterrent to other potential culprits and for a strong message to be sent to the society," he added. "Our daughter was everything for us. We lost her as well as our son-in-law. There is nothing left for us now. She is anyway not going to return. We at least need to see him punished. I want the death penalty for him," said Pallavi's mother Sunita. "We are extremely satisfied with the investuigation of the police. It was a very difficult case, and we got justice very soon. I would like to thank them," she added.

Earlier today, Pathan was found to be guilty by a Mumbai court of murdering Purkayastha in her apartment in Wadala on August 9, 2012.

According to the police, Purkayastha was murdered by Pathan in a premeditated 'act of perversion'. The opportune moment arrived when Sajjad realised that Purkayastha's live-in partner had been delayed at work. Pathan had earlier manipulated the electricity supply to Purkayastha's apartment on two occasions, forcing her to make emergency calls to an electrician to rectify the problem. Pathan had accompanied the electrician to the apartment on both occasions. On the second visit, which had occurred at around 2 a.m., he managed to steal the apartment's keys, which had been placed on a shelf in the hall.

The watchman had then let himself into the apartment using the key at around 3 a.m. and gone in to the bedroom where she was sleeping. Purkayastha tried to fend off Pathan's advances, but the latter was armed with a knife, and according to Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy "he grievously harmed her in a manner from which she could not recover".

He was apprehended before he could escape to his home state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pallavi's fiancé, Avik Sengupta, who had been living with her, found her body lying in a pool of blood. Sengupta was a crucial witness and had testified in the case. However, he died of an illness on November 14 last year.

Guard found guilty of murdering Mumbai lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha

A local court today convicted security guard Sajjad Ahmed Mughal in connection with the murder of 25-year-old city-based lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha in her flat at suburban Wadala here in 2012. 22-year-old Mughal, who was employed as a watchman at the 'Himalayan Heights' building was found guilty of murder, molestation and criminal trespass.

Convicting Mughal, Sessions Judge Vrushali Joshi said, "A case of murder, molestation and criminal trespass has been proved against you" following which the accused silently nodded. Read More.