Bombay High Court Rejects Death Penalty Plea in Pallavi Purkayastha Murder Case

Nov 10, 2025 09:30 pm CST

The Bombay High Court has dismissed petitions seeking death penalty for security guard Sajjad Pathan, who was convicted of murdering lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha in 2012. The court upheld the life imprisonment sentence, rejecting both the enhancement plea filed by the victim's father and Maharashtra government, as well as Pathan's appeal challenging his conviction. The case gained notoriety when Pathan absconded during parole in 2016 before being recaptured in 2017.