A death row convict named Vijay Paswan passed away following a cardiac arrest inside Vadodara Central Jail. Authorities rushed him to Sayaji Hospital after his medical condition deteriorated rapidly within the prison premises, where medical personnel pronounced him dead. The judiciary had previously handed down the capital punishment to Paswan, categorising the brutal assault and killing of a young child as a rarest-of-rare offence. Following his sudden demise in custody, the deceased convict's family has raised questions surrounding the initial investigation and judicial proceedings.
The December 2024 Crime and Police Investigation
The horrifying incident dates back to December 2024 in the Jhagadia GIDC industrial belt of Bharuch district. On December 16, a 10-year-old girl belonging to a migrant labourer family from Jharkhand went missing unexpectedly. Investigations subsequently revealed that the perpetrator lured the minor to a desolate area and subjected her to a horrific sexual assault. To conceal his identity and eliminate evidence, he inflicted severe injuries on her body and left her to die.
Search parties eventually discovered the severely injured child lying among bushes. The young victim bore catastrophic trauma to her face, abdomen, and private parts. She was immediately transferred to Sayaji Hospital in Vadodara for urgent medical intervention. Despite dedicated efforts by medical specialists, she succumbed to her massive injuries after fighting for survival for eight days.
Forensic Evidence, Trial, and the Death Sentence
Recognising the extreme gravity of the crime, law enforcement authorities mobilised dedicated investigative teams to crack the case. Detectives closely analysed local CCTV footage, leveraged technical surveillance, and collected crucial forensic evidence from the scene. The accumulated scientific proof pointed directly to Vijay Paswan, leading to his swift arrest.
The legal trial commenced rapidly in February 2025. Following intense deliberations and review of physical and circumstantial evidence, the court delivered its verdict during the first week of May 2025. Finding Paswan guilty beyond reasonable doubt of rape and murder, the court awarded him the death penalty.
Family Disputes Verdict and Demands Fresh Probe
Following Paswan's fatal cardiac arrest in custody, his wife Babita Devi publicly contested the legal findings and alleged serious irregularities in the handling of the case. She maintained that her husband was entirely innocent and argued that real culprits escaped accountability.
Babita Devi said, "My husband was falsely implicated in this case. No action was taken against the real culprits."
She further alleged that their defense was inadequately represented in court and described the circumstances of his custodial death as suspicious. Demanding an impartial and exhaustive investigation into both the original crime and the prison death, the family stated they would refuse to claim the body until their grievances are addressed.
