Nagpur: District Judge M V Deshpande has sentenced three men to life in prison for the brutal murder of a young man named Akash alias Golu Shravan Sontakke. This happened because Akash was in a romantic relationship with the niece of two of the accused.

The men who were convicted are Gajanan Charandas Shende (35), Pankaj Charandas Shende (26), and Dinesh Dhamnai Mahato. They all live in Sawali village, Kamptee. Akash Sontakke (23) was from Bhgaon village and was romantically involved with Gajanan and Pankaj's niece.

On October 6, 2019, Gajanan and Dinesh tricked Akash into coming to Sawali village, where they confined him and beat him with sticks and bricks. Akash was badly injured and later died while receiving medical treatment.

After a complaint was filed, Mauda Police registered a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 307 (attempt to murder), 302 (murder), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Important evidence, like buttons from Akash’s shirt, blood samples, and bricks from the crime scene, helped prove their guilt.

The court convicted the men of murder and acting together to commit the crime. Each was sentenced to life in prison and fined ₹5,000. If they don't pay the fine, they will have to serve an extra five months in prison.

The court also suggested that the parents of the deceased should receive compensation through the District Legal Services Authority, Nagpur. APP Sham Khule represented the State, while Adv Chetan Thakur and Adv Ashwin Wasnik represented the accused. Ramdas Koram and Vikas Wadkar were the police officers involved in the case.