Madhya Pradesh High Court Upholds Death Sentence for 5-Year-Old Girl's Rape and Murder in Bhopal

The Madhya Pradesh High Court in India has upheld the death sentence awarded to Atul Nihale, convicted in the rape and murder of a 5-year-old girl in Shahjahanabad, Bhopal. A division bench comprising Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Ramkumar Choubey categorized the incident as falling into the "rarest of rare" category while confirming the capital punishment.

The court dismissed the convict's appeal, ruling that the death penalty is the appropriate punishment for such a brutal crime that shocks the collective conscience of society. The horrific murder following the rape of the minor girl occurred on September 24, 2024. The 5-year-old girl had gone missing from Vajpayee Nagar, Eidgah Hills, Bhopal. During the search following her disappearance, police discovered the girl's body inside a plastic tank in the bathroom of the accused Atul Nihale's flat on September 26.

According to the court's verdict and the medical report, the convict used a kitchen knife to inflict serious injuries on the sensitive parts of the girl's body in order to rape her. The post-mortem report revealed 10 major wounds on the victim's body, leading to death due to excessive bleeding. After the murder, the convict hid the body in a water tank for two to three days.

During the hearing, the defense counsel sought a reduction in the sentence, citing the convict's poor financial condition and family responsibilities. However, the court rejected these arguments, stating, "Such a barbaric act committed using a knife on an innocent girl cannot be excused under any circumstances. Given the convict's criminal background as well, no sympathy can be shown in this case."

Earlier, on March 10, 2025, the special POCSO court in Bhopal had convicted Atul Nihale under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act and sentenced him to death. The High Court confirmed this verdict on January 22, 2026, finalizing the death penalty.