A special court in Kolkata sentenced Rajiv Ghosh to death for the sordid adult-like rape of a baby girl aged seven months. It has described this rarely imposed death penalty in a sexual assault case as “the rarest of rare.”
The crime occurred in the Burtolla area of Kolkata on November 30, 2024, when the seven-month-old was reported missing. Medical examinations later revealed, as well as severe injuries, genital injuries indicated rape. He was identified and arrested on the basis of CCTV footage from the area on December 4, 2024.
The investigation was surprisingly fast, and the charge sheet reached the court in just 26 days. Fast-tracking of the trial cushioned for fast trial proceedings. Under Section 6 of the Pocso Act, Ghosh was guilty of aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a child with a majority of the charges on February 17, 2025.
Special Public Prosecutor Bibhas was representing the case when a strong appeal was made for the death penalty. He emphasized the heinousness of the crime and the grievous injuries he inflicted on the child. The prosecution had a solid case, boosted by the testimonies of 24 witnesses and 7 medical experts. It was also satisfied with the DNA results, which linked Ghosh concretely with the crime.
The court considered, in addition to DNA evidence, other modern investigation techniques, such as gait analysis and bite mark comparison testimony, which further confirmed the testimony of the prosecution. The judgment is indeed a landmark step toward combating sexual abuse against children.
The Kolkata Court judge’s decision to hand down the death sentence against Rajiv Ghosh for the brutal rape of a seven-month-old girl is a rare but welcome step towards the fight against child sexual abuse. The use of DNA evidence and other modern forensic techniques is commendable and illustrates how much scientific investigation matters in such cases. The judgment prevents any future connivers and stands as a ray of hope for the victims of child sexual abuse.
