In a definitive move reinforcing the judiciary’s stance on the “rarest of rare” crimes, President Droupadi Murmu has rejected the mercy petition of Ravi Ashok Ghumare, a convict sentenced to death for the 2012 kidnapping, rape, and murder of a two-year-old girl in Maharashtra. This decision, finalized on November 6 and made public in December 2025, marks the third time President Murmu has denied clemency since assuming office on July 25, 2022.
The Brutal Crime (2012)
The case dates back to March 6, 2012, in the Indiranagar locality of Jalna city, Maharashtra. Ghumare lured the two-year-old victim away from her home with the promise of a chocolate. What followed was a crime of such chilling depravity that it shook the conscience of the nation. The prosecution established that the toddler was subjected to brutal sexual assault for over four hours before she finally succumbed to her injuries.
The Judicial Journey
The legal battle for justice spanned over a decade, with every level of the Indian judiciary affirming the severity of the punishment:
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Trial Court (2015): On September 16, 2015, the trial court convicted Ghumare and awarded him the death penalty.
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Bombay High Court (2016): The High Court upheld the sentence in January 2016, noting the “horrifying tale of brutality.”
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Supreme Court (2019): In a majority 2:1 verdict delivered on October 3, 2019, the apex court dismissed the appeal. Justice Surya Kant, writing for the majority, observed that Ghumare had “no control over his carnal desires” and had “ruthlessly finished a life which was yet to bloom.” The court emphasized that the convict betrayed a “fatherly” role of protection, choosing instead to make a helpless child the victim of his lust.
Presidential Intervention under Article 72
Under Article 72 of the Indian Constitution, the President has the power to grant pardons or commute sentences. However, this power is typically exercised on the advice of the Union Home Ministry. In Ghumare’s case, the recommendation for rejection was sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and after a thorough review of the records, President Murmu concurred that the heinous nature of the crime outweighed any mitigating circumstances.
A Firm Stance on Heinous Crimes
This rejection follows two other significant denials of clemency by President Murmu:
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Vasant Sampat Dupare (April 2023): Convicted of the 2008 rape and murder of a four-year-old in Nagpur.
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Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq (May 2024): A Pakistani national and LeT terrorist convicted in the 2000 Red Fort attack case.
The President’s consistent refusal to grant mercy in cases involving child sexual abuse and national security reflects a stern message regarding the rule of law. With the presidential rejection now finalized, the path is cleared for the execution of the death warrant, bringing a long-awaited sense of closure to a case that remains one of the darkest chapters in Maharashtra’s criminal history.
