Overview
- A local court extended the 24-year-old suspect’s police custody to November 27, with Additional Sessions Judge K.R. Patil conducting the hearing by video link.
- Thousands observed a shutdown and marched from Ram Setu, with crowds forcing the court gate, throwing stones and footwear, and police using a mild lathi-charge to restore order.
- State ministers met the victim’s family and pledged a fast-track trial and the strictest punishment, with one saying he would seek senior prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and push for a death sentence timeline.
- Investigators said key steps continue, including recovering the murder weapon and recording eyewitness accounts, after the child was allegedly lured with chocolate and found near a mobile tower.
- The Malegaon Bar Association said no lawyer will represent the accused, while local leaders criticized police handling and sought the suspension of a deputy superintendent.