A special women’s court in Mumbai on Tuesday convicted Delhi resident Ankur Panwar (26) for murder in connection with the Priti Rathi acid attack case of 2013.
A special women’s court in Mumbai on Tuesday convicted Delhi resident Ankur Panwar (26) for murder in connection with the Priti Rathi acid attack case of 2013. The court is expected to pronounce the quantum of punishment on Wednesday.
Priti and Panwar used to reside in the same colony at Narela in New Delhi. Panwar was in love with Priti and had even asked her to marry him. However, Priti refused his proposal and left Delhi to take up a job as a nurse in a naval hospital in Mumbai. Panwar, who was unhappy with her shifting to Mumbai, allegedly decided to attack her with acid. He followed Priti in the same train from Delhi to Mumbai. On May 3, 2013, as soon as she alighted from the train at Bandra Terminus, he flung acid at her and escaped. Priti died of multiple organ failure a month after the attack.
Special judge Anju Shende found Panwar guilty of offences under section 302 (murder), 326-A and 326-B (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.) of the IPC.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had informed the court that Priti succumbed to the burns she suffered in the attack. He said that she suffered 12-15 per cent burns to her face, neck, arms and deep internal injuries in the throat region, as she had swallowed some acid. However, defence lawyer Apeksha Vora had argued that Priti died due to medical negligence and Panwar was falsely implicated in the case. According to Ms Vora, Priti was first taken to Bhabha Hospital, where she did not get proper treatment and was later shifted to Maseena Hospital. Due to lack of proper treatment here as well, her condition deteriorated and she died.
Mr Nikam also pointed out that Panwar’s mobile phone records show that he had travelled in the same train as Priti and was at the station at the time of the attack. According to the prosecution, it was a well-planned attack and the accused was aware that his act might result in the victim’s death. The prosecution examined 37 witnesses, including five eyewitnesses and 11 doctors, to prove their points.
Priti’s brother Hitesh and father Amarsingh, a cancer patient demanded capital punishment for Panwar.
