Justice, Interrupted: Has Pallavi Purkayastha’s Rapist Left India?

Sajjad Mughal, convicted of killing lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha, was granted parole in February 2015. (Photo: The Quint/Rahul Gupta)

Convicted for raping and murdering Pallavi Purkayastha, Sajjad Mughal may have fled the country, according to a statement by the Maharashtra government to the Bombay High Court. Mughal was granted parole in February 2016 despite being sentenced to life imprisonment and in violation of parole rules. He has been absconding since.

The High Court has asked the Nashik jail authorities to give details of their efforts to trace Mughal, Mid-Day reported.

Also Read: Pallavi Purkayastha’s Father Wants Absconding Murderer Found

Mughal was convicted of attempted rape and murder in 2012. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@Mantrix)

The next date of the hearing in the trial is 21 December.

Also Read: Pallavi Purkayastha Murder: 7 Reasons Why Justice Has Been Denied

How Did a Convicted Rapist Get Parole?

In August 2016, the Maharashtra government announced that parole will no longer be granted to prisoners convicted for serious offences like rape, rape with murder and terror. But in February, when Sajjad Mughal was granted parole, it was done without consulting the Investigating Officer or the Crime Branch in Mumbai. Moreover, he was allowed to go to Baramullah in Kashmir, without an escort.

At the time, granting parole was the prerogative of Divisional Commissioners, who are IAS officers who may not have any background information about the convict. In the Pallavi Purkayastha case, the jail superintendent, JS Naik, granted Mughal’s parole. He has been suspended.

Family Demands Death Penalty

Pallavi’s family has sought the death penalty for Mughal. It was during the hearing of the appeal by Justice Ranjit More and GS Kukjarni that the bench was informed of the suspicion that Mughal might have left the country.

(Graphic: The Quint/Rahul Gupta)

Special public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde argued that the suspicion arose while investigating the FIR registered by Nashil jail authorities. According to a Mid-Day report, Justice More said,

Registering an FIR does not end the matter. We need to know what steps have been taken to trace Mughal and also on what grounds a convict of such a serious crime was granted parole. Convicts jumping parole has become a common thing. Stringent measures should be taken to stop this.

(Graphics: The Quint/Rahul Gupta)

(Source: Mid-Day)