Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur

Nagpur, May 2: Anil Deshmukh, former Maharashtra home minister and NCP (SP) leader, on Saturday demanded capital punishment for the accused arrested in connection with the sexual assault and murder of a four-year-old girl in Pune district.

The incident was reported from a village in Bhor taluk, where a 65-year-old suspect allegedly lured the child with the promise of food and took her to a shed in a cattle enclosure. Police said the accused sexually assaulted the girl before killing her, triggering outrage across the state.

Terming the crime “extremely outrageous,” Deshmukh said such a shameful incident occurring on Maharashtra Day does not befit the state’s image. In a post on social media platform X, he demanded that the case be tried in a fast-track court and the accused be awarded death by hanging at the earliest.

He also alleged that preliminary information suggests the accused may have assaulted young children in the past, raising concerns over how such offenders continue to roam freely in society.

Targeting both the state and Centre, Deshmukh accused them of passing the buck over the implementation of the proposed Shakti Act aimed at curbing sexual crimes. He said the legislation, approved during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, is still awaiting final clearance from the Centre.

“When there is an urgent need for such a law, both governments are delaying its implementation instead of acting swiftly,” he said, adding that crimes against women and minors are on the rise in Maharashtra.

Criticising the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, he alleged a lack of seriousness in enforcing stringent provisions under the proposed law. “Had this strong legislation been in force, such criminals would have received the death penalty within 15 days,” he claimed.

The Maharashtra Legislative Council in March unanimously passed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill 2026, incorporating provisions from the Shakti Bill, including protection of identities of acid attack victims and punishment for online sexual harassment. The bill had earlier been cleared by the state assembly.

Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, had earlier stated that the Shakti Bill, passed by the state legislature in 2020, was sent to the Centre for presidential assent but was later returned for reconsideration.