The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has confirmed the death sentence awarded to Vivek Gulabrao Palatkar, convicted in the sensational Pawankar murder case, by the District Court. Palatkar had massacred BJP activist and his brother-in-law Kamlakar Motiram Pawankar (52), Kamlakar’s mother Meerabai (72), his own sister Archana (45), her daughter Vedanti (15), and his son Krishna Vivek Palatkar (4), at Kamlakar’s house at Plot No. 26, Aaradhana Nagar, on June 11, 2018. Prior to this incident, Palatkar, a resident of Navargaon village in Mauda tehsil, had also taken the life of his wife several years ago which demonstrated a pattern of violence and disregard for human life. Even during his time in Nagpur Central Jail, he attempted to kill another inmate which underlined his dangerous nature and lack of potential for rehabilitation.

 

The High Court, after careful consideration, concluded that due to the threat Palatkar poses to society and the severity of his crimes, the death penalty is warranted. Justice Vinay Joshi and Justice Mahendra Chandwani presided over the hearing and reaffirmed the decision of Sessions Judge R S Pawaskar on April 15, 2023, who sentenced Palatkar to death under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. On June 10, 2018, Palatkar had come to Pawankar’s house for an overnight halt. Kamlakar, Archana, Vedanti, and Krishna were sleeping in the bedroom while Vivek was sleeping in the living room. Kamlakar’s daughter Mitali (5) and Vivek’s daughter Vaishnavi also were asleep in the living room with Meerabai. He committed the crime between 1 am and 3 am on June 11, 2018. He entered the bedroom when the victims were in deep slumber. He attacked them with sharp and heavy objects. Their heads were smashed by the object three to four times. The victims did not even resist the killer as their bodies were lying on the bed in a sleeping position.