Five Convicted Men Get Life Terms in Gujarat Navratri Gang Rape Case

A special POCSO court in Vadodara has sentenced five men to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Gujarat’s Bhayli area during Navratri in October 2024.

The court’s sentencing order came on August 31, 2026, after it had convicted all five men on August 20. Each convict was sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life, according to reports quoting the prosecution. The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on each of the five convicts and directed the government to provide ₹10 lakh in compensation to the survivor.

The five convicts have been identified as Munna Abbas Banjara, Mumtaz alias Aftab Banjara, Shahrukh Banjara, Saif Ali Banjara and Ajmal Banjara.

Conviction Followed Nearly Two Years After the Attack

The case dates to October 4, 2024, when the survivor, then 16, was returning from a Garba event with a male friend during Navratri.

According to the prosecution case reported during the trial, the two were intercepted at a secluded location in the Bhayli area by five men travelling on motorcycles. The men allegedly took the keys to the two-wheeler and threatened the pair. The prosecution said the girl was subsequently gang-raped while her friend was restrained.

The survivor and her friend later approached police, triggering an investigation that led to the arrest of all five accused.

Police also investigated the theft of the girl’s mobile phone. Prosecutors said the phone was later thrown into the Vishwamitri river, and evidence connected to the device formed part of the investigation.

Prosecution Relied on Witnesses, CCTV and Forensic Evidence

The prosecution examined 45 witnesses during the trial and presented CCTV footage, medical evidence and other material in support of its case. A 6,000-page chargesheet was also filed during the investigation, according to reports from the trial proceedings.

The five men were convicted on August 20 under relevant provisions dealing with gang rape, destruction of evidence and dacoity, along with provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, according to a PTI report published after the conviction.

The prosecution’s case therefore rested on more than the survivor’s account, with investigators presenting technical, documentary, medical and witness evidence before the court.

Prosecution Had Sought the Death Penalty

Before sentencing, prosecutors had sought the maximum punishment available, asking the court to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment.

District government pleader Anil Desai told Hindustan Times on August 25 that the prosecution considered the manner of the offence and the role of the individual convicts when seeking the maximum sentence. The defence had asked the court to impose the minimum possible punishment, citing the men’s family circumstances.

The court ultimately chose life imprisonment.

Special Public Prosecutor Nayan Sukhadwala said the court described the offence as extremely serious and treated the evidence presented by the prosecution as sufficient to establish the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Compensation Ordered for Survivor

Alongside the prison sentences, the court ordered ₹10 lakh in compensation for the survivor.

Reports from the sentencing proceedings said the compensation was intended to provide financial assistance to the minor survivor’s recovery and rehabilitation. The court also imposed a ₹50,000 fine on each convict.

The sentence brings the trial at the Vadodara court level to a close, although the legal process may continue if any of the convicted men challenge the judgment or sentence before a higher court.

Case Drew Attention During Navratri

The assault occurred during Navratri, when Vadodara’s streets and public spaces were busy with Garba celebrations.

The circumstances of the case led to widespread attention in Gujarat, particularly because the victim was a minor and the incident occurred during one of the state’s biggest annual festivals.

The prosecution’s evidence included CCTV footage and forensic and medical material, while investigators also pursued technical leads following the theft of the survivor’s phone.

With the five men now sentenced to life imprisonment, the immediate judicial question before the Vadodara court has been resolved. Any appeal or further proceedings would depend on subsequent action by the convicted men or the prosecution.