Quantum of punishment of Raju Wankhade to be decided tomorrow

Akola, Oct 2 (UNI) The exact quantum of punishment for 23-year old Raju Wankhade, who has been convicted of murdering Ms Deepali Kulkarni will be decided tomorrow.

Sources indicate that the possibility of Raju being awarded the death sentence is quite high.

Additional Sessions Judge, Justice V S Gaikwad had held Raju guilty of murdering Deepali by dousing her with kerosene and then torching her, when she refused to marry him.

The case had evoked public outrage here and noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam had been appointed as the special public prosecutor to fight the case on behalf of the state.

The special public prosecutor pleaded vehemently with the court to award the death sentence on the convict, taking into account the gravity of the crime.

The defence attorney, pleaded for leniency since his client was the only son in the family and had to shoulder the responsibility of looking after his aged parents.

The quantum of sentence to be awarded will now be decided tomorrow following arguments from the defence side.

A unusually large crowd had gathered outside the court to hear the verdict yesterday.

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