Bombay High Court upholds life imprisonment awarded to youth for killing prostitute

The Bombay High Court has upheld the life sentence awarded by the Sessions Court to a 21-year-old youth for stabbing to death a prostitute, who refused to marry him, in the year 2009.

Bombay High Court

A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising of Justices VK Tahilramani and Anil Menon recently dismissed an appeal filed by the convict, Anant alias Rakesh Ratan Let, against the judgment of the Sessions Court order convicting him for the murder of a prostitute by name Zarina, and sentencing him to life imprisonment on that count. The Sessions Court had also sentenced him to one year’s imprisonment for causing injuries to one Reshma, also engaged in prostitution. The Sessions Court had directed that the sentences were to run concurrently. 

While dismissing his appeal, the Bombay High Court observed: "We are of the opinion that there is sufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant committed murder of Zarina by assaulting her with a knife and in the course of the incident, injuries were also inflicted on Reshma, also engaged in prostitution, who tried to save the victim."

The finding of the Sessions Court on the charge of causing injuries to Reshma by the convict was also upheld by the Bombay High Court. 

"Finding of the blood group of the deceased (Zarina) on the clothes of the appellant (shirt, pant and underwear) is a strong incriminating factor against the appellant," the Bench said. 

Besides, the accused was found to have sustained a deep cut injury on his left thumb. "This is sufficient to prove that he had been involved in the attack on Zarina and Reshma," said the Court.

Reshma and her neighbour had identified Anant as the person who had stabbed Zarina. Reshma had seen him attacking Zarina after the latter shouted for help while the other witness, who stayed in the neighbourhood, had heard Zarina's cries for help, the Bench noted.

The assailant was overpowered by people after Reshma grappled with him at a residence in Grant Road where they were engaged in prostitution.