BackLAW
Pune child rape-murder: Postmortem report points to asphyxia as cause of death, says police
Autopsy on May 5, 2026 found asphyxia as the cause of death of a four-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered in Pune last week. The 65-year-old accused, a laborer, is said to have gagged the victim with a cloth, leading to suffocation, authorities said. Police note the accused has a prior criminal history with molestation charges in 1998 and 2015, from which he was acquitted.
Why It Matters
The autopsy findings contribute to the evidentiary record in a high-profile crime involving a child, potentially shaping investigation and legal proceedings and underscoring concerns about child safety and violence against minors.
Timeline
4 Events
Autopsy points to asphyxia as cause of death
May 5, 2026
The autopsy report indicated asphyxia as the cause of death of the four-year-old girl; police said the accused gagged the victim by stuffing a cloth in her mouth, leading to suffocation.
Incident reported in Pune last week
April 28, 2026
Police say the four-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered in Pune last week.
Accused booked on molestation charges in 2015
2015
The police say he was booked on molestation charges in 2015 and was later acquitted in both this and the 1998 case.
Accused booked on molestation charges in 1998
1998
The police say the 65-year-old accused was booked on molestation charges in 1998, as part of his criminal history.