Overview
- A division bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Neela Gokhale affirmed Sajjad Mugal Pathan’s conviction and life sentence, rejecting the state’s and the victim’s father’s pleas for a death sentence as well as Pathan’s appeal against conviction.
- The court clarified that the life term will last for Pathan’s natural life and that he will not be eligible for parole or furlough, citing his 2016 parole jump and rearrest roughly 18–19 months later.
- Judges said the prosecution proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt through a complete chain of evidence, including DNA matches, witness accounts, and recovery of the victim’s keys from Pathan.
- According to findings accepted by the courts, Pathan cut power to the flat, stole keys during repairs, entered later, attempted a sexual assault, and fatally stabbed the 25-year-old lawyer before being arrested at Mumbai Central station.
- The ruling upholds the Mumbai sessions court’s 2014 verdict imposing life imprisonment after finding the case did not qualify as the 'rarest of rare', with hearings in the appeals concluded on August 14 before Monday’s judgment.