The Firozabad District and Sessions Court in Uttar Pradesh, India has sentenced one Viraj, alias Jitendra Pathak, after convicting him for the brutal m8rder of an 18-month-old boy, Aarav, in a case that had sent shock waves across the country in May 2026.
The court delivered the sentence on Friday, July 10, 2026 just 40 days after the incident.
The court found Viraj guilty of k!lling the toddler, whom he allegedly considered an obstacle to his relationship with the child’s mother, whom he wanted to marry.
The swift trial saw 13 prosecution witnesses and one defence witness examined before the court reached its verdict.
The convict, a resident of Badaun, was produced before Firozabad District and Sessions Court under heavy security at around 2:30 pm on Friday for sentencing.
More than a dozen police personnel were deployed during his appearance in court. The District Judge had convicted Viraj on Thursday after the conclusion of the trial, with the sentence pronounced on Friday following the final hearing.
Public Prosecutor Rajiv Priyadarshi said the case was investigated and prosecuted with exceptional speed.
He noted that the police filed the charge sheet within six days of the murder, enabling the trial to conclude within 40 days.
A total of 13 witnesses testified for the prosecution, while one witness appeared on behalf of the defence. Based on the evidence and witness testimonies, the court awarded the d3ath penalty to the convict.
According to the public prosecutor, Viraj began sl@pping himself after hearing the sentence pronounced in court.
The case relates to the k!lling of one-and-a-half-year-old Aarav in Yadav Colony of Shikohabad in Firozabad district on May 30.
According to police, Viraj took the child with him on the pretext of buying him a toffee before repeatedly slamming him onto the road, causing fatal injuries.
The toddler was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him d3ad.
Investigators said the accused confessed during interrogation that he had committed the m8rder.
He claimed he was involved in a relationship with the child’s mother and alleged that she had been blackmailing him.
Police said he believed the child was an obstacle to his relationship and intended marriage with the woman.
The child’s mother also alleged that Viraj wanted to marry her and viewed her son as a hurdle.
The gruesome assault, captured on CCTV cameras installed nearby, triggered widespread outrage after the footage surfaced on social media.
Following the incident, the accused fled the scene but was later arrested by police during an encounter.
The investigation was completed swiftly, culminating in the filing of the charge sheet within six days.
With the trial now concluded and the death sentence awarded, the case stands out for the speed of investigation and judicial proceedings.
The conviction and sentence will now proceed through the mandatory appellate process before the punishment can attain finality under law.
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