A district court in Mathura has handed down a death sentence to a 28-year-old man from Haryana for the horrific crime of attempting to rape and subsequently burning a woman alive after she resisted his advances. The sentencing, delivered on Tuesday by District Judge Vikas Kumar, follows the conviction of the accused, Umesh Kumar, on April 30, who termed the act a “rarest of rare” crime.
The Chenab Times has learned that the court pronounced capital punishment under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder, coupled with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, the accused received seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 20,000 fine under Section 333, and a further five years of rigorous imprisonment with a Rs 5,000 fine under Section 74.
The incident, according to District Government Counsel (Criminal) Shivram Singh Tarkar, occurred on March 11, 2025, in Koh village, falling under the Farah police station jurisdiction of Mathura district. The convicted individual, identified as a resident of Hasanpur in the Palwal district of Haryana, had reportedly been making frequent visits to his sister’s in-laws’ residence.
During these visits, the accused allegedly developed an inappropriate relationship with Rekha, the wife of his sister’s brother-in-law. Prior to the fatal incident, he had reportedly lured her away, prompting a complaint and subsequent police intervention that led to her recovery. However, the prosecution stated that the accused persisted in his pursuit of Rekha.
On the day of the crime, the accused reportedly arrived at Rekha’s house disguised as a woman with the intention of sexually assaulting her. When Rekha resisted his attempt, the accused allegedly doused her with a flammable substance and set her on fire. Hearing her screams, family members rushed to her aid, at which point the accused attempted to flee by jumping from the roof, sustaining injuries in the process.
The victim was initially transported to a community health centre before being referred to SN Medical College in Agra, where she tragically succumbed to her burn injuries later that same night. The prosecution successfully argued in court that the crime was premeditated and not an act of impulse.
Further details revealed during the trial indicated that the accused possessed a prior criminal record. He had been convicted in 2018 by a Palwal court for a separate heinous crime committed in 2016, for which he had been sentenced to life imprisonment. At the time of the current offence, he was out on bail, pending the appeal of his previous conviction.
The court, in its final sentencing, took into severe consideration the extreme gravity of the current crime and the accused’s established history of serious offences when it awarded the death penalty.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
