Man sentenced to life for killing 13-year-old boy over smartphone

AGRA: A 30-year-old man , Pankaj Baghel was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 21,000 by a Mathura court for the brutal murder of 13-year-old Nitesh case from 2017.
The motive behind the crime was Baghel's desire to possess the victim's new smartphone. Ironically, the very phone that led to the murder also provided crucial evidence that helped the police apprehend the culprit.
According to ADGC (Mathura) Bhishma Dutt Singh Tomar, "The mobile phone for which Pankaj Baghel killed the child eventually led to his arrest.The accused had put his sim card into the victim's smartphone and then removed it. This provided a crucial lead for investigators and evidence of the crime."
The incident unfolded on Aug 5, 2017, when Nitesh went missing from his home in Jindal colony, Kosi Kalan. His father, Gajendra Singh, filed a missing person complaint at the local police station. Eight days later, on Aug 13, 2017, the police discovered Nitesh's body in a locked warehouse.
During the investigation, suspicion fell on Baghel, who, upon questioning, confessed to the crime. He revealed that "after his recent marriage, he planned to visit his in-laws' place and was looking for a smartphone to flaunt his 'financial status' among his wife's relatives. However, being unemployed, he did not have the means to do so".
Noticing Nitesh's new smartphone, Baghel demanded the device, but when the boy refused, Baghel took him to the locked warehouse, stabbed him to death, and left for his in-laws' place in Rajasthan.
The court of additional district judge, Ajaypal Singh, convicted Baghel of murder based on the evidence, including the knife used in the crime, and a detailed chargesheet. Baghel, who had secured bail after his arrest, was sent to prison following the life sentence on Saturday.
The case highlights the tragic consequences of unchecked desire and the importance of thorough police investigation in bringing criminals to justice.